Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Lip Prints

Lip prints, or cheiloscopy, are unique patterns of grooves and wrinkles, gaining prominence in forensic science as reliable tools for personal identification, akin to fingerprints and DNA profiling. Advances in imaging techniques have enhanced their forensic applicability. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to explore global research trends, key contributors, and thematic developments in lip print research. The search was done with a range of databases like Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed in September 2024. Included were pertinent studies on lip print analysis, and studies that were irrelevant were excluded. Specific study characteristics, citations, and years of research publication were studied using VOSviewer (Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands) and Biblioshiny (RStudio (Posit PBC, Boston, MA, US)) to examine various networks and themes of identity. Among the 5,864 articles retrieved, 198 studies were chosen for a detailed bibliometric analysis. The volume of research output has been on the rise since 1971. India leads with 133 publications backed by Saveetha University and Ajman University. Terms like "forensic identification" or "cheiloscopy" show an interest in the area of humans as an object of study. Collaborative networks are still unevenly developed and only begin to have international partnerships. This leading role of India is indicative of the importance Indian researchers are placing on forensic odontology as evidenced by the existence of regional journals and strong institutions. Foundational studies are still relevant today, though their frequency of citation per article has been decreasing as the discipline progresses. This bibliometric analysis presents the changes that have taken place over time in the field of lip print study and a particular focus on the input and collaboration of different regions of the world. Although some limitations have been noted, these results have implications in the development of forensic odontology as well as in the direction of equitable research development across the globe.