Yet another method for marking incisal edges of teeth for bitemark analysis.
Over the years many methods have been proposed and presented for marking or "highlighting" the incisal edges of anterior teeth on a dental stone model -- one of the critical steps in production of transparent overlays for bitemark analysis. A method is presented here that is an extension and refinement of the "paint the edges" method shown at least as early as 1966 by Gustafson. This method uses "invisible ink" and ultraviolet illumination to produce a very high contrast image of the incisal edges of the teeth on the model. The advantages of this new method are that it is nondestructive, it does not leave visible marks on the models, operator subjectivity in selecting the portions of anterior teeth to be highlighted is reduced, and the author submits that this technique lends itself to easy construction of overlays using computer image-processing software such as Adobe Photoshop and ImageJ.
Metcalf
Roger D
RD
Human Identification Laboratory and Chief Forensic Odontologist, Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District, Fort Worth, TX 76104-4919, USA. rmetcalf@tarrantcounty.com
D001734:Bites, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007281:Ink; D003765:Models, Dental; D010781:Photography; D012984:Software; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays