Analysing the Correlation between Tongue Print, Cheiloscopy and Dactyloscopy in North Indian Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

AbstractIntroduction: Forensic odontology is a branch of forensic sciences that uses the skill of a dentist in personal identification during mass calamities, sexual assault, child abuse etc. The tongue is a crucial organ very much encased inside the oral cavity and shielded from external environment. It is a unique structure that presents both geometric shape as well as physiological texture information that may be potentially useful in identity verification. Lip prints and fingerprints are considered to be unique to each individual.Objective: This study is being conducted to find the prevalence of distinctive features of tongue, lip and fingerprint patterns and their correlation in males and females in the North Indian population.Materials and Methods: Two hundred individuals have been included in the study. Tongues' impression of the dorsal surface and the lingual lateral edges in maximum relaxed protraction were made with the help of the alginate which was directly applied from the level of the oral commissures up to the lingual tip. The resultant moulds were then filled with class IV dental stone, so as to derive a positive image for identification. Lip prints were recorded using a dark colored lipstick on sticky side of the cellophane tape that was placed over the lips in resting position and then pressed uniformly. The right and left thumb impressions were recorded using an ink pad foreach individual.Results: There was a significant association of cheiloscopy with gender with higher prevalence of type I, II, III, IV pattern in females and type V pattern in males. Based on association of tongue texture with cheiloscopy there was a significant association with predominance of type II lip print in the geographical texture and predominance of type I and type II lip print pattern in the physiological texture. There was a significant association with predominance of loop and whorl print in the geographical texture and predominance of loop pattern in the physiological texture of tongue.Conclusion: This novel study has shown correlation between tongue and cheiloscopy. Correlation has been established between tongue and dactyloscopy. They have a strong potential to be used as biometrics for personal identification in a forensic scenario.