Efficacy of various materials in recording enamel rod endings on tooth surface for personal identification

AIM: To analyze efficacy of cellulose acetate film, cellophane tape, and light body impression material in recording enamel rod endings on tooth surface for personal identification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surface enamel rod endings of 30 extracted teeth were recorded from the same area of the same tooth for two times using cellulose acetate film, cellophane tape, and light body impression material. Photomicrographs of enamel rod endings were taken and subjected to Verifinger standard SDK version 5.0 software for analysis. Minutiae scores of all enamel rod end patterns obtained using these three imprint materials were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Cellulose acetate film imprint showed complete enamel rod end patterns and the software was able to identify the particular tooth with the same previous identification number in subsequent recordings as well. Cellophane tape and light body rubber-base impression material imprint showed incomplete enamel rod end patterns and the software failed to identify the particular tooth with the same previous identification number in subsequent recordings. Statistical analysis revealed that cellulose acetate film recorded more number of minutiae points compared with the other imprint materials. CONCLUSION: Cellulose acetate film is a reliable material for recording enamel rod endings on tooth surface for personal identification compared with cellophane tape and light body rubber-base impression material.