Computed Dental Radiography Used to Reproduce Antemortem Film Position

Visual comparison of conventional antemortem and postmortem dental radiographs is often included in forensic identification. Ten forensic cases employing dry mandibular and maxillary bones and a dry study skull were exposed using the CDR digital dental X-ray system developed by Schick Technologies, Inc. Exposures of 0.08s at 10 mA and 70 kVp were taken with an INTREX intraoral dental X-ray unit. Digital radiography has the ability to produce an image instantaneously, allowing an operator to retake an incorrectly aligned radiograph almost immediately. It gives the forensic scientist a simplified method for reproducing antemortem radiographic position more efficiently and often with greater accuracy than conventional radiography.