Although experts have great confidence in the BW analysis and the literature is replete with examples of dental radiograph comparisons, few studies have been conducted to provide scientific support or statistical validation of BW use. In the last few years, more attention has been paid to this subject. Cited literature indicates BW radiographs have a high degree of accuracy for general use in forensic dental identification. In some specific cases, however, such as the identification of children or when long time lapses occur between antemortem and postmortem radiographs, the sensitivity and accuracy of the method decline somewhat. Information obtained from BW radiographs should be valuable to forensic dentists who increasingly find they must support their decisions with scientific evidence, and validation of all tests is useful. 5 references and 1 table