RESUMEN
Objective: To describe the use of diagnostic modalities for dentofacial imaging in forensic dentistry. Materials and Methods: A scientific search was carried out in the PubMed, Google Academic, and SciELO databases with the keywords "Dentofacial Imaging", "Panoramic Radiography", "Lateral Cephalogram", "Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)", "Digital Radiography", and "Forensic Dentistry". Forty-eight recently dated articles published in English were selected, seeking information to describe the use of diagnostic modalities pertaining to dentofacial imaging in forensic dentistry. Results: The most relevant diagnostic modalities of dentofacial imaging for forensic dentistry include panoramic radiography, lateral skull radiography, posterior-anterior skull radiography and cone beam computed tomography. Conclusions: The modalities described, together with morphometric analyses, allow forensic dentists to identify a corpse, estimate age, sex, and even facilitate forensic facial reconstruction for identification purposes.
RESUMEN
RESUMEN: Objetivo: Determinar parámetros visuales sencillos para la evaluación de características esqueletales relacionadas con el biotipo facial en una telerradiografía lateral. Material y método: Estudio transversal descriptivo. Se confeccionó una guía visual impresa acerca de ocho características morfológicas del esqueleto facial visibles en la telerradiografía de perfil. Ésta fue entregada a un grupo de 69 estudiantes de Odontología de 5º año sin estudios previos en cefalometría, quienes la analizaron durante 10 minutos. Inmediatamente se les mostraron una serie de telerradiografías, y se les pidió que evaluaran las 8 características a través de una serie de opciones presentadas en una escala visual que se correspondía con la guía estudiada. Las respuestas fueron registradas utilizando un sistema digital de cliqueras. Los datos fueron analizados con el método Rasch para determinar la dificultad de los ítems, estableciéndose el grado de dificultad a través del Logit. Resultados: Los estudiantes lograron identificar y graduar sin dificultad 5 de las 8 características presentadas. Éstas fueron: Proyección del mentón (-2,49), Divergencia facial (-2,85), Ancho de la rama mandibular (-1,97), Escotadura sigmoidea (-0,96) y Relación de la rama con el cuerpo mandibular (-0,06). Conclusión: Se determinó que hay 5 características de la morfología ósea facial relacionadas con el biotipo que se pueden identificar y graduar sin dificultad por estudiantes de pregrado de odontología. Ésta información podría ser utilizada para construir una escala sencilla de identificación del biotipo facial.
ABSTRACT: Aim: Determine simple visual parameters to evaluate skeletal characteristics related to facial types in lateral teleradiographs. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. A printed visual guideline about the eight visible morphological characteristics of the facial skeleton in cephalometric x-rays was created. The guideline was given to 69 undergraduate dental students (fifth year) without previous studies in cephalometric to analyze it for 10 minutes. Immediately after, they were shown a series of teleradiographs and were asked to evaluate 8 characteristics through a series of options presented in a visual scale according to the guideline. The answers were recorded through a digital audience response system (clickers). The data obtained were analyzed with the Rasch method to assess each item level of difficulty, establishing the Logit number for each one. Results: The students identified and graded without difficulty 5 of the 8 characteristics. These were: Chin projection (-2.49), Facial divergence (-2.85), Mandibular ramus width (-1.97), Sigmoid notch (-0.96) and Mandibular body with ramus relationship (-0.06). Conclusions: Five facial osseous morphological characteristics related to the facial types can be identified and graded without difficulty by undergraduate dental students. This information may be used to create a facial type identification scale.