A Comparative Evaluation between Cheiloscopic Patterns and Terminal Planes in Primary Dentition.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Forensic Odontology
• Human Identification

Background:

• Cheiloscopy, the study of lip prints, is an emerging field in forensic science.
• Molar terminal planes are crucial indicators of future occlusal relationships in deciduous dentition.
• Understanding correlations between lip morphology and dental development can aid in early orthodontic assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various lip print patterns (cheiloscopy) and molar terminal plane types in primary dentition.
• To determine if lip prints can serve as a predictive tool for occlusal development in young children.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 300 children aged 3-6 years with complete primary dentition.
• Recording of molar terminal plane patterns and lip prints using the lipstick-cellophane method.
• Classification of lip print patterns according to Tsuchihashi and Suzuki criteria.

Main Results:

• The Type II (branched) lip print pattern was the most prevalent.
• Specific correlations were found: Type IV (reticular) and Type V (irregular) for mesial step, Type IV (reticular) for distal step, and Type I (complete vertical) for flush terminal plane.
• No significant gender-based differences were observed in the correlations.

Conclusions:

• Lip print analysis offers a potential non-invasive method to predict terminal plane types in deciduous dentition.
• Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to solidify these findings and explore clinical applications.