Two positive identifications assessed with occasional dental findings on non-dental X-rays

Abstract

The cases reported here show typical difficulties of dental identification procedure in the face of a lack of AM data for the missing person and an almost edentulous mouth in the body. In the first case the image of an included third molar found in an AM CT of the skull represented the decisive evidence for identifying the corpse; the identification of the body in the second case was possible only for an oversight of the radiologist during the performance of AM x-rays. They offer the occasion to describe the decisive importance of some occasional dental findings on non-dental x-rays and to stress the need of a comprehensive AM data collection and of a truly multidisciplinary approach to the collection and examination of x-rays. Furthermore, the cases underline that some radiographic features require skill, not only to be interpreted but also to be recognized.