Dental Science - Review Article

Lip prints: Role in forensic odontology

Janardhanam Dineshshankar, Nalliappan Ganapathi, Thukanaykanpalayam
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Ragunathan Yoithapprabhunath, Thangadurai Maheswaran, Muniapillai Siva

Kumar1, Ravi Aravindhan2
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Department of Oral ABSTRACT

Pathology, Vivekanandha
Identification plays a major role in any crime investigation. The pattern of wrinkles on the lips has individual
Dental College for
Women, Tiruchengodu,
characteristics like fingerprints. Cheiloscopy is a forensic investigation technique that deals with identification
Tamil Nadu, 1Department of humans based on lips traces. In the past decades, lip‑print studies attracted the attention of many scientists
of Oral and Maxillofacial as a new tool for human identification in both civil and criminal issues. The lip crease pattern is on the vermilion
Pathology, Madha Dental border of the lip, which is quite mobile and lip prints may vary in appearance according to the pressure, direction
College and Hospital, and method used in making the print. It concludes by enlightening the readers with the fact that the possibilities
2
Department of Oral and to use the red part of lips to identify a human being are wider than it is commonly thought.
maxillofacial pathology,
SRM Kattankulathur
Dental College and
Hospital, Chennai, Tamil
Nadu, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Janardhanam
Dineshshankar,
E‑mail: dinesh.rmdch@
gmail.com

Received : 02-05-13
Review completed : 04-05-13
Accepted : 04-05-13 KEY WORDS: Cheiloscopy, criminal issues, lip prints, lips traces

T he challenges faced by man in early days to provide the

identity of an individual. Identification of humans is
prerequisite for personal, social and legal reason. The invention
identity. Thus investigator can rely on adjuvant technique
such as cheiloscopy as supportive evidence.[2]

of finger print in the past century is the only reliable means of The pattern of wrinkles on the lips has individual characteristics
human identification.[1] In individuals, the finger print patterns as fingerprints. The wrinkles and grooves on the labial
are distinctive and permanent and hence considered as a tool mucosa (called sulci labiorum) form a characteristic pattern
for identification.[2] However, the awareness of the advanced called lip prints, the study of which is referred to as
techniques in crime detection has alarmed the criminals for Cheiloscopy.[4] It can be defined “as a method of identification
taking sufficient precautions like the use of gloves.[3] In such of a person based on characteristic arrangements of lines
circumstances, the identification of criminal using accurate appearing on the red part of lips or as a science dealing with
methods like fingerprint analysis fail to establish a positive
lines appearing on red part of the lips”.[2]
Access this article online
The lip prints being uniform throughout the life and
Quick Response Code:
Website: characteristics of person can be used to verify the presence or
www.jpbsonline.org absence of a person from the crime, provided there has been
consumption of beverages, drinks, usage of cloth, tissues or
DOI: napkin etc., at the crime scene.[5] However, studying in depth
10.4103/0975-7406.113305 and establishing further facts and truth in lip prints will
certainly help as useful evidence in forensic dentistry.

How to cite this article: Dineshshankar J, Ganapathi N, Yoithapprabhunath TR, Maheswaran T, Kumar MS, Aravindhan R. Lip prints: Role in forensic
odontology. J Pharm Bioall Sci 2013;5:95-7.

Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences June 2013 Vol 5 Supplement 1 S95 
 Dineshshankar, et al.: Lip prints: Role in forensic odontology

History 2. Curved line

3. Angled line
The biological phenomenon of systems of furrows on the red 4. Sine‑shaped line
part of human lips was first noted by anthropologists; R. Fischer
was the first to describe it in 1902.[6] In 1932, one of the France’s Suzuki and Tsuchihashi, in 1970,[10] devised a classification
greatest criminologist Edmond Locard, recommended the use [Figure 1] method of lip prints, which follows:
of lip print for identification of a person.[7] The idea of using 1. Type I: A clear‑cut groove running vertically across the lip.
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lip print for identification was first suggested by Le Moyne 2. Type I’: Partial‑length groove of Type I.
Snyder in the year 1950. He introduced a case in which lip prints 3. Type II: A Branched groove.
helped the crime scientist in an unusual way.[2] Dr. Martins 4. Type III: An intersected groove.
Santos in 1960 proposed that these lip characteristics could be 5. Type IV: A Reticular pattern
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used in personal identification and devised a simple system for 6. Type V: Other patterns.
classifying lip prints.[2]
This classification is the most commonly used for recording the
In 1967, Suzuki made a detail investigation of the measurement pattern on the lips.
of lips, the use and the color of rouge and method of its
extraction to obtain useful data for forensic application.[8] Later Recording lip prints
in 1971 Suzuki and Tsuchihashi, conducted a study and they
devised their own classification.[2] Mc Donell in 1972 conducted Lip prints can be recorded in a number of ways.
a study on lip prints between two identical twins and reported 1. Photographing the suspect’s lips.[11]
that two identical twins seemed to be indistinguishable by every 2. On a non‑porous flat surface such as a mirror they can be
other means but they had different lip prints.[8] photographed, enlarged and overlay tracings made of the
grooves.[12]
Cottone in 1981, reported in his book Outline of Forensic 3. Applying lipstick, lip rouge, or other suitable transfer
Dentistry, that cheiloscopy is one of the special techniques mediums to the lips and then having the individual press his
used for personal identification.[8] In 1990, Kasprzak conducted or her lips to a piece of paper or cellophane tape or similar
research for the period of 5 years on 1500 persons to elaborate the surface.[11]
practical use of lip prints.[6] It was during the period 2000‑2012 4. Using a finger printer, preferably a roller finger printer.[13]
that the study was carried out by several researchers from other 5. By having the subject impress his or her lips (without lipstick
countries and also in India. Different aspect of lip prints like or other recording medium) against a suitable surface
stability, morphological patterns and sex determination among and then processing these prints with either conventional
different groups of population. So all this research suggesting finger print developing powder or with a magna brush and
that the cheiloscopy can be used as an adjuvant technique in magnetic powder.[11]
identification.[2]
Processing and Developing of the Lip Prints
Classification
Provided the lip print is left on a suitable medium it can be
In 1967 Santos[9] was the first person to classify lip grooves. He developed using a number of different powders or cyanoacrylate
divided them in to four types namely: and photographed.[14] The powders used are the same as for
1. Straight line fingerprint development and the latent lip prints must be dry.[15]

Basic latent print dusting

For many crime scene investigators, more than half of the

powder they use is regular, nonmagnetic powder. It can be used
on windows, counter‑tops, television sets and many other items
moved or touched at residential burglary scenes. At commercial
burglary scenes, it can be used on metal file cabinets, painted
doors, broken glass and metal window frames.[13] Regular powders
are available in colors such as black, silver/gray, Bichromatic and
white. Proper color is chosen to provide sufficient contrast with
the background surface if a clear photograph of the latent print
has to be obtained.[13]

Developing the Latent Lip Prints

Figure 1: Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification To record lip prints using the magna brush method, the person

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 Dineshshankar, et al.: Lip prints: Role in forensic odontology

should impress his or her lips against a glossy porous surface or state police consider that lip prints are unique like finger
a smooth nonporous surface.[16] These lip prints should then prints and are positive means of identification.[13]
be subjected to a heat source until they solidify or should be
allowed to air dry. These prints should then be powdered using Conclusion
a magna brush and magnetic powder. Conventional powder
methods are usually unsuitable for powdering lip prints, Along with other traditional method, cheiloscopy can also
inasmuch as the brush tends to smear or leave streak marks serve as a very important tool in identification of a person. The
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on the print. These streaks may then be interpreted as false uniqueness of lip print needed to be conformed and accepted.
characteristics by the comparer. These magnetic powders and A standard and uniform procedure has to be developed for the
magna brush are costly as compared to that of conventional collection, development and recording of lip prints and the
powders.[13] ensuring comparison.
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Lip Print in Crime Detection References

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identification. Int Microform J Legal Med 1967;1:2.
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On May 12, 1999,[1] an Illinois appellate court accepted, Indent 1991;41:190‑4.
in people versus Davis, No 2‑97‑0725, the uncontroverted 12. Ball J. The current status of lip prints and their use for identification.
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16. Sivapathasundaram B, Prakesh PA, Siva Kumar G. Lip prints
accepted form of scientific comparison. (Cheiloscopy). Indian Dent Res 2001;12:234‑7.
3. There is no dissent in the forensic science community with
regards to either the methodology used or fact that lip prints
provide a positive identification. Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared.
4. The Federal bureau of investigation (FBI) and the Illinois

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