Forensic facial reconstruction using CBCT: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Forensic facial reconstruction is a technique to reconstruct human face from unidentified skull remains for human identification and facial recognition. Some of the methods of reconstruction is using 2D methods, 3D clay models and computerized craniofacial forensic reconstructions (CCFR). Although beneficial they are limited by meticulous and time consuming processiy. However, in 3D imaging cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an excellent alternative. Hence, this systematic review evaluated whether CBCT is a better diagnostic tool in facial forensic reconstruction compared to conventional 2D and 3D methods of facial reconstruction.

RESULTS: Article selection and data extraction was done based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria devised for the study. The articles were screened from Pub Med, ProQuest, Google scholar, Science direct and Scopus. Three hundred and thirty-nine articles were initially identified from which seven articles were full text reviewed and included in the review. All the articles included in this study suggest that the facial reconstruction done using CBCT are reliable.

CONCLUSION: The computerized 3D modeling method produces reliable facial reconstructions which involves the images scanned from CBCT and the combination method. The computerized 3D modeling method produces facial reconstruction which almost mimics the original resemblance.