Sex Determination Using Cheiloscopy and
Sex Determination Using Cheiloscopy and
Sex Determination Using Cheiloscopy and
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Original Article
E stablishment of a person’s individuality is important for The grooves present on the human lips are unique to
each person and can be used to determine identity of the
legal as well as humanitarian purpose and gender
determination is an essential step in identifying an individual. The study of these grooves or furrows present
individual. Dental, fingerprint and DNA comparisons are on the red part or the vermilion border of the human lips
probably the most common techniques used in this context, is known as cheiloscopy.[2] Lip prints are unique and do
allowing fast and secure identification processes. However, not change during the life of a person.[3] This biological
in certain circumstances related to the scene of the crime,
phenomenon was first noted by anthropologists. R.
these techniques might be unavailable, so there
Fischer and was the first one to describe it in 1902.[2,4]
Access this article online Teeth are extremely durable even at high temperature and
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may be identified even when the rest of the body has
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undergone decomposition.[5] Mandibular canines are found
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to exhibit the greatest sexual dimorphism amongst all
teeth.[5‑7] “Sexual dimorphism” refers to those differences in
DOI: size, stature, and appearance between male and female that
10.4103/0975-1475.109889 can be applied to dental identification because no two
mouths are alike.[5,6] It was for these reasons that Rao et al.
proposed the exclusive use of mandibular canines in sex • Normal over‑jet and overbite
identification. The authors developed an index, which • Absence of spacing in the anterior teeth
they named mandibular canine index (MCI).[7] • Normal molar and canine relationship
The purpose of the study was to investigate the accuracy Impressions were made by alginate and study models were
with which gender can be differentiated by using prepared in dental stone. Mandibular study models were
cheiloscopy and MCI. used for the analysis. On the study model, the following
measurements were taken for all the subjects using a digital
Materials and Methods vernier’s callipers. Mandibular canine width was measured
as the greatest mesiodistal dimension of mandibular canine
Study sample on either side of the jaw using a vernier calliper, and the
A study sample comprised 60 students of Teerthanker average of this was taken. The intercanine distance was
Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, 30 males measured as the linear distance between the cusp tips of
and 30 females aged between 20 and 25 years. right and left mandibular canine.
Cheiloscopy and MCI both were performed in each
student to investigate the accuracy of both the sex The observed mandibular canine index (MCIO) was
determination parameters. Informed consent of all the calculated using the formula below:[5,7]
students was obtained prior to the study. Observed mandibular canine index
= Mesio distal crown width of mandibular canine
For cheiloscopy
Mandibular canine width
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
• Lips free from any pathology The standard MCI value is used as a cut‑ off point to
• Absolutely normal transition zone between the differentiate males from females, which is obtained from
mucosa and the skin the measurements taken from the samples by applying
• Individuals with known hypersensitivity to lipstick the following formula:
were not included in this study
Standard mandibular canine index
A dark colored lipstick was applied with the single stock, = (Mean male MCI − SD) + ( Mean female MCI + SD)
evenly on the vermillion border. The subject was asked to 2
rub both the lips, to spread the lipstick evenly. After 2 The observed MCI was compared with the observed MCI
mins, lip impressions were made, on a strip of cellophane value obtained in this study and correlated with previous
tape on glued portion, which was then stuck to a white studies like Reddy LVK, Rao et al., Muller et al., and
bond paper. This served as a permanent record. The Hashim et al.
impression was visualized using a magnifying lens.
Results
The lip prints were classified (Tsuchihashi’s
classification) in the year 1974 into six types, according to The Table 1 shows that the overall mesio‑distal width of
the shape and course of grooves:[2,8] mandibular canine was found to be 6.57 ± 0.29 mm
Type I: Clear‑cut grooves running vertically across the lip among the study group in which males had a more
Type I’’: The grooves are straight but disappear half‑way mesio‑distal width in both right (6.79 ± 0.29) and left (6.78
instead of covering the entire breadth of the lip. ± 0.30) mandibular canines when compared to females
Type II: The grooves fork in their course and was found to be significant (P = 0.000, HS). The
Type III: The grooves are branched observation was similar for the mandibular inter‑canine
Type IV: The grooves are of criss crossed pattern and distance also with maximum intercanine distance (32.89 ±
reticular 1.29) in males which was found to be significant (P =
Type V: The grooves do not fall into any of the types I to 0.000, HS) when compared to females (30.6 ± 1.39) . There
IV and cannot be differentiated morphologically is no variation in MCI of males and females and was
found to be not significant in the present study group.
For Mandibular Canine Index
Inclusion criteria Table 2 shows that Type I (46.7%) lip print was most
Subjects with following status of teeth were included in commonly seen in females followed by type II (30.0%), type
the study. IV (16.7), type III (3.3%), and type V (3.3%), respectively.
Type III (43.3%) was seen most commonly in males followed
• Healthy state of gingiva and periodontium by type IV (30.0%), type II (13.3%), and type I (6.7%), and V
• Caries free teeth (6.7%), respectively. The difference is statistically significant.
Table 1: Overall mesio‑distal width In our study, the upper lip showed a predominance of type I
Sex Number Mean Std. Sig. (P‑value) pattern (26.7%) followed in order by type III (23.3%) and
deviation type IV (23.3), type II (21.7%) and type V (5.0%).
Right mandibular Male 30 6.79 0.284 0.000* HS
canine(r ma ca‑c ) Female 30 6.31 0.252 Sivapathasundharam et al. (2001)[10] stated that the
Left mandibular Male 30 6.78 0.298 0.000* HS uniqueness of patterns depended on the way the lip muscles
canine(lmc‑cast) Female 30 6.40 0.306 relaxed to produce a particular pattern. Lévêque and
Intercanine Male 30 32.89 1.291 0.000* HS Goubanova (2004)[11] suggested that the furrows and grooves
mandibular Female 30 30.60 1.390 on the lips seemed to be privileged routes for saliva to
(IC‑CAST)
spread over the lips and maintain good hydration. They also
MCI for right side Male 30 0.21 0.012 0.931 NS
found the upper lip to be more hydrated than the lower one.
Female 30 0.21 0.011
The variations in pattern between the upper and lower lip
MCI for left side Male 30 0.21 0.012 0.335 NS
may be attributed to these factors and might have a
Female 30 0.21 0.012
functional significance. Lévêque and Goubanova also noted
*Highly significant
that some continuity appeared to exist between the lips and
adjacent skin lines and suggested a common origin.
Table 2: Distribution and comparison of lip print with gender
Lip print Sex Total Chi-square Sig. As early as 1950, Snyder suggested that the normal lines
Male (%) Female (%) (%) (P-value) and fissures of the lips were an individual characteristic,
Type 1 2 14 16 Pearson chi-square 0.000*,HS much the same as finger ridges.[8,12‑16] Since then,
6.7 46.7 26.7 value -22.685 numerous studies give evidence to the fact that lip prints
Type 2 4 9 13 are unique and characteristic of an individual. However,
13.3 30.0 21.7 Likelihood at the initial classification stage, as in the case of
Type 3 13 1 14 ratio - 25.8 fingerprints, there are similarities among the broadly
43.3 3.3 23.3 classified groups of lip prints.
Type 4 9 5 14
30.0 16.7 23.3 Linear-by-linear Canines differ from other teeth with respect to survival and
Type 5 2 1 3 association -
sex dichotomy. These differences are probably related to
6.7 3.3 5.0 13.011
their function, which is different on an evolutionary basis
Total 30 30 60 from other teeth. Although canine sex differences and
100.0 100.0 100.0 enhanced canine survival are not related to each other, both
*Highly significant are probably related to the need for successful use of canines
as weapons for total body survival.
Table 3: Sexual dimorphism in mandibular canines
Tooth Sexual dimorphism The present study establishes the existence of a definite
Right Canine 6.926% statistically significant sexual dimorphism in mandibular
Left Canine 5.498% canines. This is consistent with the findings of Hashim
72 Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences / July-December 2012 / Vol 4 / Issue 2
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Table 4: Comparison of mandibular canine index and type of lip print patterns
Canine index (Measurements in mm) Lip print patterns Mean Std. deviation ANOVA value (F) Sig.
Mesio‑distal width of mandibular canine
Right Type 1 6.43 0.26 3.139 0.021, S
Type 2 6.48 0.34
Type 3 6.82 0.33
Type 4 6.47 0.39
Type 5 6.66 0.49
Left Type 1 6.52 0.27 2.017 0.105, NS
Type 2 6.50 0.38
Type 3 6.82 0.34
Type 4 6.54 0.37
Type 5 6.54 0.40
Mandibular inter‑canine distance
Type 1 30.96 1.59 2.179 0.083, NS
Type 2 31.53 1.77
Type 3 32.75 1.56
Type 4 31.88 1.75
Type 5 31.51 2.42
The mandibular canine index
Right Type 1 0.21 0.01 0.576 0.681, NS
Type 2 0.21 0.01
Type 3 0.21 0.01
Type 4 0.20 0.01
Type 5 0.21 0.00
Left Type 1 0.21 0.01 0.404 0.805, NS
Type 2 0.21 0.02
Type 3 0.21 0.01
Type 4 0.21 0.01
Type 5 0.21 0.01
and Murshid who conducted a study on 720 Saudi males The present study establishes the existence of a definite,
and females in the age group of 13‑20 years. Their study statistically significant, sexual dimorphism in mandibular
showed that the canines were the only teeth to exhibit canines as well as cheiloscopy. We conclude that the standard
dimorphism.[17] MCI is a quick and easy method for sex identification. This is of
particular significance when more advanced methods for sex
Similar findings were given by Lew and Keng in their study determination are not readily available. However, as the
on an ethnic Chinese population with normal occlusions. accuracy of MCI in identification of sex has never exceeded
87.5%, it can only be used as a supplemental tool.
A study by Kaushal et al. found a statistically significant
dimorphism in the mandibular canines in 60 subjects in a References
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