Stability of Lip Print Patterns in a Patient with Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) for Forensic Identification: A Clinical Case Report
Dyah Indartin Setyowati
Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Dwi Kartika Apriyono
*
Department of Forensic Odontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Hanna Alifia Pratiwi
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Kendra Firyaliva
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Balqist Ferinda Inayah
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Siti Muflihatul Hasanah
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Intan Ratu Alda
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
Berliana Inas Putri Ismanto
Undergraduate Dentistry Professional Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Jember, Indonesia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) may temporarily alter the surface characteristics of the labial mucosa and can therefore influence lip print recording in cheiloscopy. This clinical case report aimed to assess the stability of lip print patterns in a 24-year-old woman with recurrent minor RAS affecting the inner aspect of the left lower lip. Lip prints were recorded at three observation points: before lesion onset, during the active lesion phase and after complete healing. The lipstick-and-transparent adhesive tape method was used, and the obtained prints were transferred to white paper and photographed digitally. Lip print patterns were analysed using the Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification after division of the lips into eight quadrants. At baseline, 199 grooves were recorded, with Type I′ being predominant (53.2%), followed by Type II (29.6%), Type V (8.5%), Type I (7.5%) and Type IV (1.0%); Type III was absent. During the active lesion phase, 115 grooves were identified, with an increased proportion of Type II (36.5%), reduced Type I′ (28.7%) and the appearance of Type III (0.9%), along with higher proportions of Type IV (12.2%) and Type V (10.4%). After healing, 80 grooves were recorded, and Type I′ again predominated (48.75%), followed by Type I (21.25%), Type II (12.5%), Type V (10%), Type IV (5%) and Type III (2.5%). These findings suggest that the basic lip print pattern in this case remained broadly stable, although active RAS was associated with temporary local distortion. Cheiloscopy may remain useful for forensic identification when the clinical condition of the lips at the time of recording is carefully considered.
Keywords: Lip print, cheiloscopy, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, forensic odontology, forensic identification, labial mucosa, Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification, oral mucosal lesion, lip print stability, case report