Year : 2016

Volume : Volume 6

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Treville Pereira.
trevillepereira@gmail.com

Abstract

Aim:  This study was carried out with the objectives of investigating and evaluating the uniqueness of lip prints and in particular lip print pattern identification among a population of Bengali individuals residing in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: The lip prints of 100 subjects which included 50 females and 50 males in the age group of 13 to 70 years were selected for the study. The lip prints were analyzed using magnifying lens and were classified using the criteria given by Suzuki and Tsuchihashi. The print was subsequently visualized with the magnifying lens.  Statistical analysis used: Data was entered on a Microsoft excel sheet and statistically analyzed using statistical software (SPSS, version 17.0) (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Chi-square test was performed to test the significance of gender-wise difference in different quadrants. P≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result: The most predominant pattern seen in this population was type II, followed by type III, type V, type IV, type I and type I’ in both the upper and the lower lips taken together. Conclusion: The lip prints did not consist simply of one type of groove alone, but appeared as a mixture of varying types. Lip prints are unique for each individual and the lip prints among family members show different patterns with few similar grooves. Lip prints are highly individualistic which can be used for personal identification of individuals and can be of great use in future of forensic odontology.

Keywords: Forensic odontology, Bengali, cheiloscopy, lip prints.