Role of Tongue Prints in Forensic Odontology and Biometrics: A Systematic Review

Objective: Tongue prints can be used for human authentication. Similar to finger prints, the features of the tongue are
unique and differ from individual to individual. The aim of this review was to verify the prevalence of Tongue traits and how far
Tongue traits are useful in forensic identification.
Material and Methods: Systematic search was done at databases Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Embase and
Web of Science between January 2005 and December 2020 for identification of articles addressing the prevalence of tongue
traits and its usefulness in forensic identification. The systematic review was carried out which adopted the guidelines of
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis.
Results: The search identified 170 references. 30 articles were selected and evaluated. All of the studies included in the systematic review showed a low risk of bias.
Conclusion: Tongue is unique with its characteristic traits which are distinctive for personal identification. Tongue printing
is becoming a novel biometric tool and also a powerful forensic tool.