Sexual Predilection of Lingual Morphology - A Cross-sectional Comparative Study.

Background: Proof of identity acts as a key title role in any criminal investigation. Training of tongue prints has been documented and acknowledged as the gold standard for personal identification worldwide nowadays. Tongue printing has proved as an innovative biometric tool and can be relied upon as an authoritative forensic tool. Research works have been carried out on tongue print independently. However, studies focusing on the morphology or shape of the tongue have not been commenced to a prodigious scope. Aim: The contemporary trial was undertaken upon the people to train and scrutiny the morphological shape of the tongue and validate their magnitude as assistance in sexual dimorphism. Materials and
Methods: Hundred dental students in the age group of 18-25 years were included in the trial. For the trial clinical scrutiny, photographs and lingual impressions were recorded of the tongue.
Results: In the current trial of the shape of the tongue for gender identification, we used two classifications. According to TCM criteria, five tongue shapes were used for gender identification: rectangle, acute triangle, obtuse triangle, square, and circle. Among the 100 subjects, the square-shaped tongue was chiefly observed, trailed by the circle and obtuse triangle. In the second criteria, Stefanescu et al. classified tongues into two shapes: U- and V-shaped. When the tongue shape was scrutinized, U shape was seen in 79 persons and V shape in 21 persons out of 100 subjects.
Conclusion: Hence, the trial concluded that tongue prints exhibited a qualitative result among diverse sex groupings. It can be preached that the human tongue possibilities to distribute a point of exceptionality in morphological shape; besides, it is apt for utilization in gender acknowledgment. Copyright:

INTRODUCTION

Forensic odontology is a branch of forensic medicine related by means of the correct examination, management, and presenting of dental evidence in court for the sake of justice. Establishing one's identification is one of the obstacles that forensic professionals may encounter. A set of attributes that define an individual is included in the concept of identity. The first priority in the identification process, according to some, is sex evaluation, which is a prerequisite for identification. As a result, the tongue morphology exhibits sexual dimorphism, assisting in the development of a fresh tool for person identification.[1]

The tongue is the lone internal organ that may be effortlessly removed then presented for examination in addition to palpation. This organ is useful due to its uncovered area containing information with evident alterations from one individual to another, and in addition utilized as a “linguistic impression” by means of its shape, texture and color assessed in a given instant (impression of the dorsal surface along with the lateral borders).[2]

The dorsal surface is unique for every individual. The lingual impression with the photographic images can constitute more secure methods for forensic dentistry identification; thus, in addition to rugoscopy and chelioscopy, this can be included in the biometrics.[3]

This trial demonstrates the uniqueness of tongue prints and their importance as an aid in sexual dimorphism.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A cross-sectional descriptive trial was conducted on 100 dental students (2nd BDS, 3rd, and 4th-year BDS students) from November 2020 to January 2021. The age ranged from 19 to 23 years.

The trial included people who were clinically healthy and had not been exposed to any acknowledged genotoxic substances. Persons with HIV and infectious infections, systemic conditions such as hyperthyroidism, gigantism, dwarfism, syphilis, Down syndrome, and post-mortem instances were excluded. Before clinical photography and impression making, each subject gave their informed consent. The tongue was examined and photographed, and imprints were collected so that a database of tongues could be created.

Before the inspection, the tongue was cleaned with a sterile gauze piece and the oral cavity was rinsed. To avoid striated lingual muscle contractions, the patients were advised to protract the tongue in a relaxed position. The purpose of the clinical tongue examination was to highlight morphological aspects for example shape and texture. The photos were captured with a professional Canon DSLR digital camera in the equivalent environment and lighting and at a predetermined distance.

The most reliable impression intended for trial models is the alginate-molded impression (Zelgan Alginate), which offers the advantages of duplicating the most minute details and coming off the model easily. Thus, we performed the comprehensive scrutiny for identification determinations by taking the impression of the dorsal surface and the lingual lateral edges by utilizing alginate, which was unswervingly applied from the level of the oral commissures up to the lingual tip to circumvent the lingual tip in order to avoid the lingual tip, The resulting molds were filled with dental stone in the laboratory to create a relevant positive image for identification.

We utilized two classes to look at the shape of the tongue for gender identification:

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) criteria: Grounded on TCM, we outline five tongue shapes: rectangle, acute triangle, obtuse triangle, square, and circle.[4]

Stefanescu : U- and V-shaped tongue.[2]

RESULTS

In the current trial of the shape of the tongue for gender identification, we used two classifications. According to TCM criteria,[5] the following tongue shapes were used for gender identification: rectangle, acute triangle, obtuse triangle, square, and circle. Among the 100 subjects, the square-shaped tongue was chiefly perceived, followed by circle and obtuse triangle [Graph 1]. The square-shaped tongue was authoritative among the male subjects (34 out of 50 subjects) compared to female subjects (14 out of 50 subjects). The circle shape of the tongue was second utmost common in the current trial among both males and females, but it was found to be more authoritative in female subjects (30 out of 50 subjects).

Graph 1

Shape variation of tongue according to gender according to TCM criteria

In the second criteria, Stefanescu et al. classified tongue into two shapes: U- and V-shaped [Graph 2]. When the tongue shape was scrutinized, U shape was perceived in 79 persons and V shape in 21 persons out of 100 subjects. U-shaped tongue was found in 42 males out of 50 subjects and in 37 out of 50 female subjects.

Graph 1

Shape variation of tongue according to gender (U & V Shape)

DISCUSSION

The tongue is a muscular oral cavity organ with an oral and pharyngeal portion. It has a tip at the front of the tongue, a base that makes up the back 1/3rd of the tongue, a root that connects to the floor of the mouth, lateral edges on both sides, and two surfaces, dorsal and ventral.[5]

Each person's tongue has a distinct dorsal surface. Even between identical twins, the tongue's distinguishing features show significant variation. Once utilized in concurrence by means of cheiloscopy in addition to rugoscopy, lingual impressions (impressions of the dorsal surface as well as the lateral borders) have been shown to be beneficial in forensic dental identification.[6] The current trial used photography and alginate lingual impression to reveal a link between tongue morphology and sexual dimorphism.

Square- and circular-shaped tongues were regularly observed in both sexes in this trial performed according to TCM criteria. The current trial focused on the relationship between tongue shape and gender, and we discovered that males have a square-shaped tongue while females have a circle-shaped tongue.

Surendra et al.[7] observed that hammer, elliptical, and oval-shaped tongues were prevalent in both genders in their trial. They also claimed that males (9/15 respondents) had hammer-shaped tongues, while females (9/15 subjects) had oval-shaped tongues. Females had a more round/oval-shaped tongue (9/15 persons) (60%), followed by elliptical-shaped (5/15 subjects) (20%) and hammer-shaped tongues (1/15 subjects) (20%). A similar result was found in a trial by Huang et al.[8]

The purpose of this trial was to categorize the shape of the tongue into two categories, namely U-shaped and V-shaped, as well as the relationship between the two and sexual dimorphism. Both males and females have a tongue that is formed in a U shape. In a large sample of females, a V-shaped tongue with a pointed tip was also found. These findings corroborated those of prior studies, which found that males have a longer and wider tongue than females.[5910]

CONCLUSION

The tongue is a one-of-a-kind organ with several static and dynamic properties that vary greatly between people. In addition to rugoscopy and cheiloscopy, the lingual impression and its digital image may be protected by means of forensic dental identification. In forensics, there are very few studies on tongue morphology for gender identification. The current trial aims to investigate the physical shape of the tongue and its association with gender, which can be useful in forensics for person identification. There is a need for more trials on the possibilities of lingual print as a forensic instrument.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.