Background:The forensic odontologists play a very important role in assisting the Forensic team in the identification of corpuses found in natural disasters and homicides. Since tooth is a calcified structure and is resistant to high or low temperatures and is adequately strong to resist trauma, the teeth may be the only structure left behind intact in most of the cases. The resemblance of incisors to a shovel results from the combination of a concave lingual surface and elevated marginal ridges of the incisor teeth. Previous researches had proved that different population shows different shoveling pattern, which may be useful for identification of individuals in a mass disaster like natural or human created. Aims and Objectives: The present study was framed for the identification of different shoveling pattern in incisors in different parts of India. Materials and Methods: 400 patients were selected for the study which consisted of an equal number of individuals from different parts of India such as East, West, North, and South. The Hrdlicka's subjective scale was used to categorize the degree of shovelshaped incisors. Results: Our study showed that shoveling pattern of incisors were more pronounced in the Western part of India than other areas such as East and North and was very minimal in the Southern part of India. Clinical Significance: The present study on the shoveling pattern of incisors may be a useful aid for personal identification in forensic dentistry.

Background: Tobacco products attribute to oral cancer. Chronic smoking causes permanent damage to the oral mucosal cells and results in micronuclei (MN) formation. Aims and Objectives: The present study design was to assess the MN number in different locations of the oral cavity and to assess the damaging effects in patients who smoke and those who had left the habit recently. Materials and Methods:Three groups were included in the study. The first group included smokers; the second group included those who recently quit the smoking habit; and the third group included those without habit. Cytosmears were taken and stained with rapid Papanicolaou. MN were observed using a polarized light microscope. Results: Mean values of MN were observed more in the buccal mucosa, followed by lower labial mucosa and floor of the mouth. A significant increase in MN was observed in smokers group, a significant decrease in recently quit habit group and no MN observed in the control group. Conclusion: The genotoxic effects of tobacco smoke cause MN, and the counts can be used as a non-invasive early diagnostic tool. This finding was important in using MN detection in various areas of the mouth and a prognostic indicator to determine smoking cessation.

Aim and Objectives: To assess and establish the cheiloscopic patterns in Indian and Iranian dental students between the both genders and compare both the groups. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 80 students in the age group of 20-30 years. Lipstick, brush, white paper, adhesive cellophane tape, and magnifying glass were used for the study. Adhesive cellophane tape was used to take the lip print of each individual without any distortion. After carefully removing the cellophane tape, it was stuck onto a white paper. The impression of the lip was splitted into four segments and it was examined using a glass which can magnify the size of the object which is viewed. Lip imprint impression patterns were segregated using classification given by Tsuchihashi and Suzuki. Results: Indian and Iranian dental students showed differences in patterns of lip imprints which is of statistical significance. Conclusion: Lip imprints are specific to a person and unchangeable like fingerprints, so it can be regarded as an important aid in forensic investigations.

Aim and Objectives: To study and evaluate the pattern of lip impression in North Bengaluru population. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 100 individuals (equal number of males and females) in the age group of 22-35 years. Dark colored lipstick, cellophane tape/scotch tape, A4 sheet, and magnifying hand lens were used for the study. Tsuchihashi and Suzuki's classification was followed. The lip prints were analyzed using magnifying hand lens and grouped into Type I (vertical lines that is running along the full length of the lips), Type I' (vertical lines ending half way), Type II (lines/grooves forking at the end), Type III (mesh pattern/intersecting lines), Type IV (reticular/crisscross lines), and Type V (lines which cannot be categorized into other types). Results: In the present research, we found that lip prints were individualistic. Type IV (reticular/crisscross pattern) was the most common pattern of lip print in North Bengaluru people. Conclusion: Cheiloscopy/study of patterns of lip-prints can serve as an important tool in criminal investigations as it is unique. The predominance of a specific pattern in a geographic location also helps in personal investigations.