The Use of Panoramic Radiographs for Comparisons in Cases of Identification
S Schwartz, E.D. Woolridge · Journal of Forensic Sciences · 1977
Abstract The specific aim of this project was to determine the value of panoramic radiographs in cases of identification through a series of double blind comparisons and to formulate a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of such interpretation. The study was conducted from a forensic approach through the use of all means of comparison of simulated “antemortem” to “postmortem” panoramic radiographs. These various means of comparison consisted of dental restorations (size, shape, location, and various materials), tooth morphology, anatomical landmarks, maxillary sinus configuration, foramina (mental, posterior palatine, mandibular, and incisive), bony trabeculation patterns, condylar morphology, mandibular canal morphology and location, morphology of the lower border of the mandible, third molar root formation, apical calcification, path of eruption evaluated through time intervals, hard tissue healing in old extraction sites, endodontically treated teeth, prostheses, malposed teeth, fixed orthodontic appliances, caries, coronal fractures, bone loss interpretation, and attrition.