From Pixels to Evidence: A Narrative Review of Digital Imaging Technologies in Forensic Odontology

Abstract

The integration of digital imaging in forensic odontology has greatly revolutionized the field in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility of medicolegal investigations. Although conventional radiographic techniques still form the foundation, there is a growing trend toward complementing and replacing them with more advanced digital modalities that provide high-quality images, lower radiation doses and seamless data transmission.
This narrative review focuses on examining the range of digital technologies used in forensic dentistry, including digital radiography, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), digital dental photography, three-dimensional scanning, photogrammetry, virtual autopsy and artificial intelligence–assisted analysis. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords, and only articles published since 2000 were included.
The review highlights the contribution of each modality to major forensic odontology applications such as human identification, age and sex determination, bite mark analysis, disaster victim identification (DVI), and postmortem examination. The transformative role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in automating workflows in dental identification is also discussed, along with existing limitations, including lack of standardization, inconsistency in digital dental records, and issues related to legal admissibility.
DICOM standards and the digital chain of custody are critically examined and their forensic implications are evaluated. The review concludes that digital imaging technologies represent the future of forensic odontology, with great potential to enhance identification accuracy and the reliability of judicial processes, provided that effective standardization programs and training systems are implemented across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.