Dental identification using 3D printed teeth following a mass fatality incident

Abstract

• Forensic odontology remains at the forefront of the disaster victim identification (DVI) process following mass fatality incidents. • Post-mortem CT scanning has become established as part of the DVI process, and the scan data can be used in a variety of ways including 3D printing. • A case is presented where a 3D printed model of the dentition of a deceased individual enabled successful identification without resorting to disfiguring facial incisions in a charred body. Following a mass fatality event there is a requirement to establish the identities of the deceased individuals as quickly as possible, but with sufficient certainty. Comparison of post-mortem dentition with ante-mortem records remains one of the most cost-effective methods of achieving this reliably and in a timely manner. The relatively recent introduction of post-mortem CT scanning into the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) environment has brought with it an abundance of additional detailed information that can be used in a variety of novel ways. Here we present a case where 3D printing was used to produce a model of a victim's dentition, enabling confident odontological identification without resorting to disfiguring incisions in a charred body. On-site access to a 3D printer of sufficient quality meant that there was no significant delay in the identification process, and the cost of consumables used to manufacture the model totalled less than £1.