Zeitschrift für forensische Forschung

Human Teeth a Tool to your Identification-Dead or Alive: A Review on Ameloglyphics

Abstract

Ravina Sorout, Mansi, Puneeta Vohra, Archna Nagpal and Anuridhi

Forensic Odontology is a branch of Forensic sciences that uses the skill of the dentist in personal identification during mass calamities, sexual assault, and child abuse to name a few. This branch is no stranger to many as it has been growing tenfold in its potential and its ability to bring the forlorn to justice where dental remains are the only available evidence. Its role and importance in the judiciary are fast-growing and hence in-depth knowledge in this field seems more than justified. Various methods currently employed in forensic odontology for personal identification include comparing with antemortem dental charts, rugoscopy, denture labeling, DNA analysis from dental pulp, bite mark analysis, etc. Recently there is growing interest in the study of enamel rod end patterns. These enamel rod end patterns are termed as tooth prints and the study of these prints is known as ameloglyphics. In this manuscript, we intend to systematically appraise and emphasis on the role of ameloglyphics in forensic odontology.