A comparative study to investigate the effect of orthodontic treatment on the uniqueness of the human anterior dentition.

Aim: The human dentition contains many features which can be used to identify an individual from the dentition or from bite marks created and bite mark evidence may be used to link a suspect to a crime. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of orthodontic treatment on the uniqueness of the human anterior dentition by comparison of the number of dental shape matches between pre- and post-treatment dental casts for a group of patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment (dental braces) to improve the alignment of their teeth.

Method: This comparative study utilised pre- and post-orthodontic treatment dental casts from 36 patients.