Dry skull positioning device for extra-oral radiology and cone-beam CT

Extra-oral radiographs of dry skulls on scientific or forensic context have head position as a critical procedure. The aims of this article are to present a multi-purposed head-positioning device, and to describe the new method of image acquirement using the device to adequately keep the head in a correct and safe position during radiological or tomographic exam. The design was created from an average-sized skull and then tested in 20 others with different morphologies, sizes, weights, and structural state of preservation. A series of digital and analog orthopantomographies followed by a cone-beam computer tomography were obtained to assure that the correct positioning standards and anatomical visualization were achievable. The developed device properly kept adult skulls in position for all extra-oral radiographic exams, providing to operators a secure and facilitated way to achieve the proper position standards. The device did not impair the visualization of the anatomical structures neither on radiographs nor in cone-beam computer tomography.

[1]  D. Sweet.  Forensic dental identification. , 2010, Forensic science international.

[2]  A. Valenzuela,et al.  The application of dental methods of identification to human burn victims in a mass disaster , 2000, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[3]  L. Will,et al.  Accuracy and reliability of linear cephalometric measurements from cone-beam computed tomography scans of a dry human skull. , 2009, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics.

[4]  R. Wood.  Forensic aspects of maxillofacial radiology. , 2006, Forensic science international.

[5]  D. Sweet,et al.  A look at forensic dentistry – Part 1: The role of teeth in the determination of human identity , 2001 .

[6]  P. Major,et al.  The effect of vertical and horizontal head positioning in panoramic radiography on mesiodistal tooth angulations. , 2009, The Angle orthodontist.

[7]  S. Malkoç,et al.  The effect of head rotation on cephalometric radiographs. , 2005, European journal of orthodontics.

[8]  K Horner,et al.  The use of panoramic radiology in dental practice. , 1996, Journal of dentistry.

[9]  U. Lee,et al.  Identification Using Frontal Sinus by Three‐Dimensional Reconstruction from Computed Tomography * , 2013, Journal of forensic sciences.

[10]  Frank Ramsthaler,et al.  Superimposition technique for skull identification with Afloat® software , 2010, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[11]  Forensic odontology in the disaster victim identification process. , 2012, The Journal of forensic odonto-stomatology.

[12]  Yehya A Mostafa,et al.  Accuracy and reliability of cone-beam computed tomography measurements: Influence of head orientation. , 2011, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics.

[13]  G Quatrehomme,et al.  Identification by frontal sinus pattern in forensic anthropology. , 1996, Forensic science international.

[14]  A. Du Chesne,et al.  Post-mortem orthopantomography – an aid in screening for identification purposes , 2000, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[15]  Daniel Franklin,et al.  The application of traditional and geometric morphometric analyses for forensic quantification of sexual dimorphism: preliminary investigations in a Western Australian population , 2012, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[16]  S. Kvaal,et al.  Collection of post mortem data: DVI protocols and quality assurance. , 2006, Forensic science international.

[17]  T. Beaini,et al.  Exposure Standards for Digital and Analogue Dry Skull Orthopantomography , 2011 .

[18]  B. Kwiatkowska,et al.  Height of skull base as an indicator of living conditions in historical native populations from Europe, Australia and Africa. , 2009, Homo : internationale Zeitschrift fur die vergleichende Forschung am Menschen.

[19]  G. Willems,et al.  Human dental age estimation combining third molar(s) development and tooth morphological age predictors , 2012, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[20]  A. Schmeling,et al.  Radiographic evaluation of Gustafson’s criteria for the purpose of forensic age diagnostics , 2012, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[21]  J O Katz,et al.  The present direction of research in forensic odontology. , 1988, Journal of forensic sciences.

[22]  Reinhilde Jacobs,et al.  Human Dental Age Estimation by Calculation of Pulp–Tooth Volume Ratios Yielded on Clinically Acquired Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images of Monoradicular Teeth * , 2011, Journal of forensic sciences.

[23]  Moschos A. Papadopoulos,et al.  Five-year experience with orthodontic miniscrew implants: a retrospective investigation of factors influencing success rates , 2009 .

[24]  I. Pereira,et al.  Determinação radiológica do índice e do tamanho craniano por mensuração dos diâmetros cranianos em uma população infantil brasileira , 2008 .

[25]  I. Caldas,et al.  Chronological course of third molar eruption in a Portuguese population , 2011, International Journal of Legal Medicine.

[26]  Eduardo Daruge Júnior,et al.  Importance of frontal sinus radiographs for human identification , 2008, Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology.

[27]  David R. Senn,et al.  Computer‐aided Dental Identification: An Objective Method for Assessment of Radiographic Image Similarity * , 2009, Journal of forensic sciences.

[28]  Mahmut Asirdizer,et al.  Identification of unknown bodies by using CT images of frontal sinus. , 2007, Forensic science international.