A comparative evaluation between cheiloscopic patterns and canine relationship in primary dentition

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between different cheiloscopic patterns with the canine relationship in deciduous dentition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-hundred children who were 3–6 years old with complete primary dentition were recruited and the relationships between maxillary and mandibular canines were recorded in the pro forma. Lip prints of the patients were recorded with the lipstick-cellophane method, and middle 10 mm of the lower lip was analyzed for the lip print pattern. The patterns were classified based on the Tsuchihashi and Suzuki classification. RESULTS: Type II (branched) pattern was the most predominant cheiloscopic pattern. The predominant patterns which related to the terminal planes were Type IV (reticular) pattern for Class I, Type IV (reticular) and I (complete vertical) patterns for Class II, and the presence of Type V (irregular) pattern for Class III. Presence of Type I (complete vertical) and II (branched) patterns in males and Type II (branched) pattern alone in females can suggest for a Class II canine relationship. CONCLUSION: Lip prints can provide an alternative to dermatoglyphics to predict the canine relationship in primary dentition. Further studies with larger sample size are required to provide an insight into its significant correlations.