Impressão tridimensional de dentes e suas implicações na odontologia legal

Abstract

With the growing number of different types of accidents, forensic dentistry has taken an important role in identification processes, especially when the integrity of the human body is compromised. It is known that each dental arch is unique, so the evaluation of dental elements is extremely important for post-mortem identification. In Brazil, there are still few studies using the three-dimensional printing technique in the field of forensic odontology. The aim of this study was to verify whether three-dimensional printing technology has the potential to reproduce a reliable prototype of dental anatomy from digital images. Dental images of incisors, canines, premolars and molars were selected in a format suitable for 3D printing. These digital images were measured using Meshmixer software and modeled using specific software to be printed three-dimensionally. This study went through two phases: the first to test the available technologies by printing a small sample of teeth and a second phase that defined the technology that would be used to print and measure a larger volume of teeth. Fourteen images of single teeth with crown and root were analyzed and measured. From these images, 20 units of each tooth were printed in the two right hemi-arches (upper and lower), for a total of 280 printed teeth. These printed teeth were measured using a caliper and the data analyzed. In only 12.5% of the actual comparisons, 11 dental elements, the difference between the measurement made on the printed mold and the digital measurement was not significant. Inferential analysis using the hypothesis test adopted indicates statistically non-significant differences in 11 of the 88 comparisons made. The caliper measurements taken on the printed teeth were significantly different from the values delivered by the digital software. These differences indicated that 3D printing using Modified Stereolithography (MSLA) technology had dimensional inaccuracies that statistically impacted its characterization as an alternative to traditional methods.