Reliability of Automated Biometrics in the Analysis of Enamel Rod End Patterns- In Vitro Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Ameloglyphics is the study of the distinctive patterns found on the enamel surface of teeth, which are different on each tooth and particular to each person. The purpose of this study was to compare the enamel print patterns on the buccal and lingual surfaces of teeth to see if there are any appreciable differences, and to evaluate the sensitivity and reliability of an automated biometrics software. Method: The study involved 62 individuals including 36 females and 26 males, from age range 15-60 years. From each individual one tooth sample was analyzed using a light microscope to capture images of the buccal and lingual surfaces middle third. These images were then analyzed using biometric software called Source AFIS, which processed the images and displayed enamel patterns. Data were entered and analyzed using GPower software (version 3.0). Chi-square test and Goodness of fit tests were done to compare the enamel rod end patterns between the teeth surfaces These enamel patterns were classified according to the “Manjunath Classification”. Result: The study found that there were no notable distinctions in enamel print patterns when comparing the teeth buccal and lingual surfaces. All 62 samples analyzed showed a high degree of similarity in enamel print patterns on both surfaces. This finding suggests that the same developmental, environmental, and genetic factors likely influence the enamel print patterns on both surfaces of a tooth. Conclusion: The samples' high frequency of comparable sub-patterns on both the buccal and lingual surfaces suggests that they are very similar to one another. This implies that tooth prints may be a valuable tool for forensic personal identification, particularly in the area of forensic dentistry.