Abstract
BACKGROUND: Enamel rod end patterns, analogous to fingerprints yet resistant to postmortem degradation, have been investigated as a potential alternative biometric marker, particularly in primary teeth. The existing literature highlights a gap in research, prompting this in vitro study. Its objective was to identify and analyse enamel rod end patterns on primary maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, distinguishing between boys and girls. METHODS: Enamel rod end patterns of 120 noncarious primary anterior teeth with intact crown structure were recorded using the acetate peel technique. The photomicrographs of the imprints were then subjected to biometric conversion using Verifinger standard SDK® version 6.5 software. RESULTS: On the enamel surface of primary maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth, the following seven enamel rod end patterns were detected and recorded: Wavy branched (WB), Linear branched (LB), Linear unbranched (LUB), Whorl (W), Loop (L), and Stem-like (SL) patterns. WB (n = 12; 20%) was the only pattern that predominated in all the samples of girls. WB (n = 9;15%) and LB (n = 3; 5%) emerged as a single pattern among boys. The patterns LUB, L, W, and SL were never observed alone; rather, they were combined with two, three, or four other patterns, primarily WB and LB. CONCLUSION: Enamel rod-end patterns show promise as durable biometric markers; however, their forensic utility in gender identification depends on methodological standardisation and reproducibility. Future research should focus on validating recording protocols and ensuring consistent analytical reliability before routine forensic application, especially in paediatric cases.