Evaluation of Tongue Impression as a Forensic Tool for Personal Identification: An Observational Study

Background: Unique characteristics like fingerprints, facial and iris scans contribute to forensic science by identifying an individuals' authenticity.Tongue is a fleshy muscular organ that is well protected in the oral cavity, unaffected by the external factors and difficult to be simulated.This study was an attempt to use tongue as a tool to identify a person as limited studies have been accomplished in investigating tongue's morphologic features. Aim: To identify an individual by tongue impression.Objectives: To clinically analyse the tongue morphology and to correlate it with that of tongue impression.Material and methods: 30 subjects (15 males and 15 females) between the age group of 18-65 years were considered in the study.Two examiners observed the morphological features clinically and also by comparing the corresponding tongue cast.Results: Anterior fissure pattern was observed in elder subjects while median fibrous septum was observed in younger subjects.Hammered (H) shape of the tongue was the dominant tongue pattern among male subjects; oval (O) and ellipsoid (E) were characteristic shapes noted in female subjects. Conclusion:A detailed impression of the anterior two thirds of the tongue can aid as a promising tool to identify a person and can also serve as a permanent record through the cast.