Imaging to Evidence: An Introduction to Forensic Radiology - Part I

Abstract

Forensic radiology communicates through images in ways that words often cannot, particularly within the field of oral and maxillofacial sciences. The unique patterns of dentition and the resilience of skeletal structures provide reliable evidence in medico-legal investigations. Radiographic techniques such as cone beam computed tomography, panoramic radiography, and cephalometric analysis play a vital role in human identification, age estimation, bite mark assessment, trauma evaluation, and disaster victim identification. With the advancement of three-dimensional reconstruction, digital imaging, and artificial intelligence, forensic radiology now offers an unprecedented level of precision, enabling accurate and rapid comparison with antemortem records. Part I of this review article highlights the critical intersection of advanced dental imaging and legal justice, underscoring the role of oral and maxillofacial radiologists as both scientific experts and interpreters of hidden narratives within human remains. The details of the imaging techniques used and their interpretation are intended to be covered in the part II of the review.