Forensic Dentistry, Second Edition

200 Forensic dentistry

10.9.3 Jaw Fragments

When taking radiographic images of jaw fragments, care must be taken that

the beam and film orientation be the same as would be expected on a living

patient. That is, the beam should enter from the buccal or facial with the film

placed to the lingual. Should this not be taken into account, the film-orienting

dimple will be positioned incorrectly and the teeth will appear to be from the

opposite side of the arch and will be misidentified.

10.9.4 Panoramic

In panoramic radiography the beam direction is the opposite from intraoral

radiography. That is, the beam is always directed upward and from lingual

toward buccal or facial. Consequently, when attempting to emulate ante-

mortem panoramic views with postmortem intraoral radiography, it may

be helpful to reverse the beam direction by placing the film or sensor on

the buccal or facial and directing the beam from the lingual upward. Also,

the laws of the buccal rule will be reversed from what is normally true. As the

panoramic beam is directed upward, lingual objects will be projected higher

than buccal objects that are at equal heights.

References

1. McCoy, J.D. 1916. Dental and oral radiography. St. Louis, MO: C.V. Mosby
   C omp any.


2. Langland, O., Sippy, F., and Langlais, R. 1984. Textbook of dental radiology.
   2nd ed. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.


3. Fry, W.K. 1943. The Baptist Church cellar case. Br Dent J 75:154.


4. Goaz, P., and White, S. 1994. Oral radiology: Principles and interpretation. 3rd ed.
   St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

Figure 10.6 the film on the left is oriented dimple down (note bottom left
position). the film on the right is dimple up (note bottom right position). ultra™
film speed notation ult reads correctly on right image.