How can radiography aid in identifying ante-mortem dental work?

• A. Radiographs cannot reveal dental work
• B. Radiographs reveal fillings, crowns, implants, and root canal work, enabling comparison with dental records
• C. Radiographs only show bone density
• D. Radiographs replace DNA analysis

Answer: (B)

Radiographs reveal what dental work exists because fillings, crowns, implants, and root canal treatments are made from materials that show up distinctly on X-ray images. This creates a dental signature that can be compared directly to ante-mortem records, which often include radiographs and detailed charts. By aligning the pattern and presence of restorations, along with tooth shape and root canal histories, you can link the dental evidence from a deceased individual to a specific person in the records, aiding positive identification even when other features are not available. Radiographs do more than show bone density; they document restorations that are highly individual. They also do not replace DNA analysis, which serves a different purpose in identification.