Sexual Dimorphism in Lip Prints and Intercanine Distance: A Forensic Perspective
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Abstract
Background: Forensic odontology plays a crucial role in identifying unknown remains in mass disaster, criminal deaths, identification of missing persons, and child abuse cases. For person identification, sex of individual is determined first. Techniques in identification procedures, such as lip prints, rugae patterns, and canine odontometrics, can provide comparatively valid conclusions regarding a person's identification. Teeth are often the most reliable marker mainly mandibular canines which have consistently shown the highest sexual dimorphism. The pattern of wrinkles on the lips has individual characteristics like fingerprints and helps to identify sex of an individual.
Aim and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy by which gender can be determined using mandibular intercanine distance (MICD) and lip print pattern. Also, to compare and correlate these two parameters among males and females.
Materials and Methods: The study comprised of 300 participants (150 males and 150 females) between 18–30 years of age. MICD was measured using a vernier calliper on cast models, while latent lip prints were recorded and visualised using Nile Red. MICD and common lip pattern among two groups (males, females) were assessed.
Results and Observations: There was a statistically significant difference in analysis of MICD and in the different lip print patterns between males and females, but there was no significant correlation between lip print pattern and MICD. MICD was more for males than females. Also, it was observed that most common type of lip print was Type I in females and Type II in males, with Type II being predominant in overall study individuals.
Conclusion: MICD and lip prints can be used for gender determination as independent variables, but there was no statistical correlation between these two parameters.
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References
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