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Analysis of enamel rod end pattern for personal identification

Article  in  Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology · January 2019

DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_208_18

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Forensic Corner

Analysis of enamel rod end pattern for personal

identification
J Naziya1, S Sunil2, P Jayanthi1, R Rathy1, R K Harish1
1
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Azeezia College of Dental Sciences and Research, Kollam, 2Department of Oral and
Maxillofacial Pathology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Tiruvalla, Kerala, India

Abstract Background: Microscopically, groups of enamel rods run in unique direction, which differ from adjacent
group of enamel rods and results in forming different patterns of enamel rod endings on tooth surface.
These are called as tooth prints and they help in personal identification in forensic odontology.
Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present study is to analyze the enamel rod end pattern on the tooth
surface for personal identification and to analyze the familial inheritance of enamel rod end pattern.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, 100 different families were considered for the analysis of tooth
print pattern. In each family, four members were present. The maxillary central incisor, canine and first
premolar were selected. Enamel rod end pattern was recorded using acetate peel technique and analyzed
using Verifinger® standard SDK version 6.7 software.
Statistical Analysis: Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software. Contingency coefficient statistical
analysis was used for the comparison of tooth print pattern in incisors, canines and premolars based on
age and gender. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The present study showed that a tooth print is composed of combination of eight distinct
subpatterns, namely wavy branched, wavy unbranched, linear branched, linear unbranched, whorl open,
whorl closed, loop and stem‑like pattern. Wavy branched pattern was found to be the most predominant
pattern in incisors, canines and first premolars in our study. Familial tendency of tooth print pattern in
incisors, canines and premolars was noticed in 65%, 66% and 52% of the families, respectively.
Conclusion: Tooth prints are unique to an individual and can be used as a valuable inexpensive tool in
forensic odontology for personal identification.

Keywords: Enamel rod end, peel technique, tooth prints

Address for correspondence: Dr. P Jayanthi, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Azeezia College of Dental Sciences and Research,
Kollam, Kerala, India.
E‑mail: drjayanthip@gmail.com
Received: 21.08.2018, Accepted: 16.01.2019

INTRODUCTION iris and dental patterns, fingerprints and DNA analysis.[1]

However, these identification methods cannot be used
Identification of an individual is a challenging task in the when the bodies are burned or decomposed.[2] Teeth have
present world. The most commonly used methods for been used as a reliable tool for personal identification in
identification in forensic science include the photographs,
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DOI: How to cite this article: Naziya J, Sunil S, Jayanthi P, Rathy R, Harish RK.
10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_208_18 Analysis of enamel rod end pattern for personal identification. J Oral Maxillofac
Pathol 2019;23:165.

© 2019 Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
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Naziya, et al.: Enamel rod end patterns

forensic medicine, especially when the soft tissues cannot fractured teeth were excluded from the study. The patients
provide adequate information.[3] were thoroughly examined and a detailed case history was
taken from each participant.
Amelogenesis refers to the formation of enamel by
ameloblasts and is a highly organized process. The The enamel rod patterns in the middle third of the labial or
ameloblasts secrete enamel in such a way that the enamel buccal surface of the maxillary right central incisor, canine
rods have an intertwining path. This is reflected on the and first premolar were analyzed. The tooth was isolated
outer surface of the enamel as series of enamel rod end and dried. Once the surface had dried, a drop of acetone
patterns. The study of patterns of enamel rods is known was applied over a small piece of cellophane sheet film and
as ameloglyphics (amelo meaning enamel and glyphics placed immediately over the surface of the tooth without
meaning carvings).[4] Both genetic and environmental any finger pressure for 2–3 min. The acetone will dissolve a
factors influence the process of odontogenesis and layer of cellophane sheet and the dissolute will settle down
amelogenesis. The size, shape and color of the enamel may along the irregularities on the enamel surface. A small piece
be inherited from the parents.[5,6] The individualization of of cotton roll was applied over the cellophane sheet for a
tooth print can be attributed to variations in environmental better adaptation. The film was gently peeled after 3 min.
factors surrounding each developing tooth. This includes The portion of the cellophane tape was cut and transferred
the position of the developing tooth bud, temperature, on a glass slide and observed under a light microscope in
pressure or nutrition to the ameloblasts. Genetics might low‑power magnification. The imprint area was focused
also have a role in predetermining the type of pattern.[7] and was photographed. These photomicrographs were
subjected to biometric analysis using VeriFinger® standard
The tooth prints are unique, exhibiting variations SDK version 6.7 software. This software recognized the
between teeth of different individuals and of the same patterns of enamel rod endings as series of lines running
individual. This uniqueness of the tooth print could be in varying directions. The software used certain points
used as a valuable tool in forensic dentistry for personal called minutiae for identification of each pattern. These
identification. Analysis of tooth prints is best suited minutiae were used to compare the similarity/variability
for personal identification for individuals working in of two patterns.
dangerous occupations such as fire fighters, soldiers, jet
pilots, divers and people who live potentially unstable areas. The patterns of tooth prints were compared between
In 1998, Neurotechnologia developed VeriFinger SDK individuals of the same family and between different
identification software for biometric system integrators. teeth in the same individual. Tooth print patterns were
Originally, this software was used for fingerprint analysis, categorized as linear branched, linear unbranched, wavy
but it can also be used for tooth print analysis. VeriFinger branched, wavy unbranched, whorl open, whorl closed,
SDK (v5.0, Neurotechnology, Lithuania, European Union) loop and stem‑like pattern according to Manjunath
software is a reliable biometric tool for the analysis of et al.[2] Each enamel rod end pattern had a combination
enamel rod end patterns in ameloglyphics.[3] of few subpatterns, but was predominated by a single
subpattern.[2,3]
The aim of this study is to assess intra‑ and interpersonal
variations in enamel rod end pattern of teeth and to analyze Statistical analysis
the familial inheritance of enamel rod end pattern. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS (version 17.0,
IBM, New York, USA) software. Contingency coefficient
MATERIALS AND METHODS statistical analysis was used for the comparison of tooth
print pattern in incisors, canines and premolars based
The study was approved by the institutional ethics on age and gender. P = 0.05 was considered statistically
committee. Before initiating the study, written informed significant.
consent in accordance with the ethical codes adopted by
the National Committee for Medical Research Ethics was RESULTS
given by all the participants. Participants of both genders
were selected from 100 different families by simple random The present study showed that a tooth print is composed
sampling. Patients with intact teeth were included in this of combination of eight distinct subpatterns, but was
study. Patients with a history of orthodontic treatment, predominated by a single subpattern. The subpatterns
teeth with abrasion, erosion or caries in the cervical region, were wavy branched, wavy unbranched, linear branched,
teeth with developmental defects or restorations and linear unbranched, whorl open, whorl closed, loop and
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Volume 23 | Issue 1 | January-April 2019
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Naziya, et al.: Enamel rod end patterns

a b a b

c d c d
Figure 1: Enamel rod end patterns: (a) wavy branched, (b) wavy Figure 2: Enamel rod end patterns: (a) whorl closed, (b) whorl open,
unbranched, (c) linear branched and (d) linear unbranched (c) loop pattern and (d) stem‑like pattern

stem‑like pattern [Figures 1 and 2]. Wavy branched pattern Table 1: Distribution of enamel rod end pattern in incisors
was found to be the most predominant pattern in incisors, among males and females
Enamel rod end Males, Females, Contingency coefficient
canines and first premolars in our study. The distribution pattern n (%) n (%) C P
of enamel rod end patterns in males and females is shown
Wavy branched 63 (32.0) 119 (58.6) 0.38 0.000
in Tables 1‑3. Comparison of enamel rod end patterns Wavy unbranched 37 (18.8) 17 (8.4)
in incisors, canines and premolars based on gender was Linear branched 50 (25.4) 9 (4.4)
statistically significant  (P = 0.00). Familial tendency of Linear unbranched 14 (7.1) 32 (15.8)
Whorl open 6 (3.0) 11 (5.4)
tooth print pattern in incisors, canines and premolars was Whorl closed 11 (5.6) 4 (2.0)
noticed in 65%, 66% and 52% of the families, respectively. Loop 7 (3.6) 9 (4.4)
Stem like 9 (4.6) 2 (1.0)
DISCUSSION
Table 2: Distribution of enamel rod end pattern in canines among
Dental identification is considered to be one of the most males and females
reliable methods of identifying an individual in forensic Enamel rod end Males, Females, Contingency coefficient
odontology. The antemortem and postmortem records of pattern n (%) n (%) C P
the individual are compared for congenital and acquired
Wavy branched 80 (40.6) 122 (60.1) 0.24 0.001
characteristics of the teeth. Teeth are highly resistant
to environmental effects such as fire, desiccation and Wavy unbranched 11 (5.6) 13 (6.4)
decomposition, and hence, they are considered to be the
Linear branched 59 (29.9) 31 (15.3)
most indestructible components of the human body.[8,9]
Linear unbranched 16 (8.1) 18 (8.9)
Enamel forms the outermost component of tooth Whorl open 4 (2.0) 5 (2.5)
crown and is the hardest substance in the human body. Whorl closed 12 (6.1) 3 (1.5)
Microscopically, enamel consists of groups of enamel Loop 11 (5.6) 10 (4.9)
rods running in different directions. This difference in Stem like 4 (2.0) 1 (0.5)
direction results in formation of different patterns of
enamel rod endings on the tooth surface.[10,11] From the
surface of enamel, these rod endings can be lifted as a plants.[13] Füsun et al. used acetate peel technique to study
tooth print. The study of such patterns of enamel rod dental structures in three‑dimensional view. This study
endings is referred to as “ameloglyphics.”[12] Studies have was done on fully mineralized enamel without routine
shown that the enamel rod end pattern is unique for each decalcification.[14] Manjunath et al. compared the efficacy
tooth in an individual.[7] of cellulose acetate film, cellophane tape and light body
impression material in recording enamel rod endings on
In this study, acetate peel technique was used for obtaining tooth surface and concluded that cellulose acetate film is
tooth prints. The peel‑making technique was first developed a reliable material for recording enamel rod endings on
by palaeobotanists to study the cellular structures of fossil tooth surface.[3]
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Naziya, et al.: Enamel rod end patterns

Table 3: Distribution of enamel rod end pattern in premolars such as straight, wavy, branched, looped, intersecting
among males and females and radiating.[7]
Enamel rod end Males, Females, Contingency coefficient
pattern n (%) n (%) C P
According to our study, wavy branched pattern was the
Wavy branched 81 (41.1) 114 (56.2) 0.26 0.000
Wavy unbranched 21 (10.7) 26 (12.8)
most predominant pattern in incisors, canines and first
Linear branched 63 (32.0) 25 (12.3) premolars. Our result is similar to the studies done by
Linear unbranched 16 (8.1) 26 (12.8) Manjunath et al. and Raju et al.[5,16]
Whorl open 3 (1.5) 0 (0.0)
Whorl closed 5 (2.5) 3 (1.5)
Loop 7 (3.6) 8 (3.9) In the present study, 100 different families were
Stem like 1 (0.5) 1 (0.5) considered for the analysis of tooth print pattern. In
each family, four members were present. Of these
In the present study, VeriFinger software was used for 400 individuals, 203 were female and 197 were male.
analyzing the tooth prints. Each time when a tooth print Comparison of enamel rod end pattern in incisors,
was subjected to biometric analysis using VeriFinger®, canines and premolars was significantly different
the software obtained the patterns and subpatterns of between males and females (P = 0.00). Raju et al. studied
enamel rod endings and stored the pattern in the database. distribution of enamel rod end patterns in males and
Whenever the tooth print obtained from the same tooth females. However, no significant difference in tooth
was subjected to biometric analysis the second time, the print pattern was observed between males and females.[5]
software identified each duplicate recording of a tooth
with the use of minutiae. Tooth print obtained from one Familial tendency of tooth print pattern in incisors, canines
particular tooth did not match with the print obtained and premolars was noticed in 65%, 66%, and 52% of
from another tooth of the same individual or from another families, respectively. None of the study on ameloglyphics
individual. Manjunath et  al. assessed the reliability and has reported the familial tendency of tooth print pattern
sensitivity of VeriFinger® standard SDK version 5.0 in till date.
analyzing tooth prints. The results of the study showed
that the software was able to identify duplicate records of The enamel rods follow a tortuous course from the
a same tooth comparing with the original records that is dentinoenamel junction to the surface tooth. This may
stored on the software database. The authors concluded result in different rod end patterns at varying depths even
that VeriFinger® is a reliable software for analyzing enamel in the same tooth. Rod ends are generally very prominent
rod end.[15,16] in newly erupted teeth. The enamel surface is always
subjected to both micro‑ and macrowearing and processes
Gupta et  al. compared the tooth prints of different such as attrition, abrasion and erosion wear the outermost
individuals and different teeth of the same individual. layer of enamel rod ends and expose the underneath layer.
They showed that none of the enamel rod end patterns This could further change the enamel rod end patterns
exhibited intraindividual and interindividual similarity. The with time. Manjunath et al. conducted a study to determine
authors also concluded that no specific class of tooth could the thickness of enamel showing similar enamel rod end
be preferentially used for assessing rod end patterns.[12] patterns. They also estimated the average time taken for
Joshi et  al. assessed the pattern of enamel rod endings change in enamel rod end pattern due to tooth brushing.
using automated biometrics and showed similar results.[17] The study showed that each enamel rod end pattern takes
A study done by Raju et al. showed that enamel rod end approximately 4–6 years to change into the subsequent
patterns were specific for an individual and also specific pattern due to in vivo brushing. Therefore, it was suggested
for a particular tooth.[5] that the enamel rod end pattern should be recorded for at
least every 4 years.[4]
The present study showed that a tooth print is composed
of combination of eight distinct subpatterns, but was CONCLUSION
predominated by a single sub pattern. The subpatterns
were wavy branched, wavy unbranched, linear branched, Ameloglyphics can play a significant role in personal
linear unbranched, whorl open, whorl closed, loop identification of individuals particularly working in
and stem like as described by Manjunath et al.[2] Three dangerous occupations such as soldiers, divers, jet pilots
distinct subpatterns, namely linear branched, linear and people who live and travel to potentially unstable areas.
unbranched and wavy branched, were described by Joshi However, the enamel rod end pattern should be recorded
and Bhosale[17] whereas Dahal et  al. observed patterns for at least every 4 years during its practical application.
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Volume 23 | Issue 1 | January-April 2019
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Naziya, et al.: Enamel rod end patterns

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