Abstract
Dental identification is the most valuable method to identify human remains in single cases with major postmortem alterations as well as in mass casualties because of its practicability and demanding reliability. Computed tomography (CT) has been investigated as a supportive tool for forensic identification and has proven to be valuable. It can also scan the dentition of a deceased within minutes. In the present study, we investigated currently used restorative materials using ultra-high-resolution dual-source CT and the extended CT scale for the purpose of a color-encoded, in scale, and artifact-free visualization in 3D volume rendering. In 122 human molars, 220 cavities with 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-mm diameter were prepared. With presently used filling materials (different composites, temporary filling materials, ceramic, and liner), these cavities were restored in six teeth for each material and cavity size (exception amalgam n = 1). The teeth were CT scanned and images reconstructed using an extended CT scale. Filling materials were analyzed in terms of resulting Hounsfield units (HU) and filling size representation within the images. Varying restorative materials showed distinctively differing radiopacities allowing for CT-data-based discrimination. Particularly, ceramic and composite fillings could be differentiated. The HU values were used to generate an updated volume-rendering preset for postmortem extended CT scale data of the dentition to easily visualize the position of restorations, the shape (in scale), and the material used which is color encoded in 3D. The results provide the scientific background for the application of 3D volume rendering to visualize the human dentition for forensic identification purposes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brogdon BG (1998) Forensic radiology. CRC Press, Boca Raton
James H (2005) Thai tsunami victim identification overview to date. J Forensic Odontostomatol 23:1–18
Jackowski C, Thali M, Sonnenschein M et al (2004) Visualization and quantification of air embolism structure by processing postmortem MSCT data. J Forensic Sci 49:1339–1342
Ljung P, Winskog C, Persson A et al (2006) Full body virtual autopsies using a state-of-the-art volume rendering pipeline. IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph 12:869–876
Rutty GN, Boyce P, Robinson CE et al (2007) The role of computed tomography in terminal ballistic analysis. Int J Legal Med 122:1–5
Jackowski C, Sonnenschein M, Thali MJ et al (2005) Virtopsy: postmortem minimally invasive angiography using cross section techniques–implementation and preliminary results. J Forensic Sci 50:1175–1186
Shiotani S, Kohno M, Ohashi N et al (2004) Non-traumatic postmortem computed tomographic (PMCT) findings of the lung. Forensic Sci Int 139:39–48
Stein KM, Bahner ML, Merkel J et al (2000) Detection of gunshot residues in routine CTs. Int J Legal Med 114:15–18
Hayakawa M, Yamamoto S, Motani H et al (2006) Does imaging technology overcome problems of conventional postmortem examination? A trial of computed tomography imaging for postmortem examination. Int J Legal Med 120:24–26
Jackowski C, Thali M, Aghayev E et al (2006) Postmortem imaging of blood and its characteristics using MSCT and MRI. Int J Legal Med 120:233–240
Sidler M, Jackowski C, Dirnhofer R et al (2007) Use of multislice computed tomography in disaster victim identification–advantages and limitations. Forensic Sci Int 169:118–128
Dedouit F, Telmon N, Costagliola R et al (2007) New identification possibilities with postmortem multislice computed tomography. Int J Legal Med 121(6):507–510
Tatlisumak E, Yilmaz OG, Aslan A et al (2007) Identification of unknown bodies by using CT images of frontal sinus. Forensic Sci Int 166:42–48
Smith DR, Limbird KG, Hoffman JM (2002) Identification of human skeletal remains by comparison of bony details of the cranium using computerized tomographic (CT) scans. J Forensic Sci 47:937–939
Pfaeffli M, Vock P, Dirnhofer R et al (2007) Post-mortem radiological CT identification based on classical ante-mortem X-ray examinations. Forensic Sci Int 171:111–117
Dedouit F, Telmon N, Guilbeau-Frugier C et al (2007) Virtual autopsy and forensic identification-practical application: a report of one case. J Forensic Sci 52:960–964
Jackowski C, Aghayev E, Sonnenschein M et al (2006) Maximum intensity projection of cranial computed tomography data for dental identification. Int J Legal Med 120:165–167
Thali MJ, Markwalder T, Jackowski C et al (2006) Dental CT imaging as a screening tool for dental profiling: advantages and limitations. J Forensic Sci 51:113–119
Jackowski C, Lussi A, Classens M et al (2006) Extended CT scale overcomes restoration caused streak artifacts for dental identification in CT–3D color encoded automatic discrimination of dental restorations. J Comput Assist Tomogr 30:510–513
Eisenburger M, Hughes J, West NX et al (2001) The use of ultrasonication to study remineralisation of eroded enamel. Caries Res 35:61–66
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Thomas Kilchör for his contribution to different practical aspects of the study as well as Petter Quick for his experienced support during data acquisition. The study was financially supported by the Swiss Nationalfonds.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jackowski, C., Wyss, M., Persson, A. et al. Ultra-high-resolution dual-source CT for forensic dental visualization—discrimination of ceramic and composite fillings. Int J Legal Med 122, 301–307 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0224-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0224-8