AbstractIntroduction: The goal of the current investigation was to see if there was any correlation between skeletal malocclusions and lip print patterns.
Settings and Design: Hospital based, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study.
Meterials and Methods: The study was conducted on 120 subjects, divided into 3 groups Skeletal Class I, Class II, and Class III based on ANB angle, Beta angle, and Wits. For the assessment of lip print patterns, they were classifi ed according to the Tsuchihashi classification system.
Statistical analysis: The chi-square test was used to study diff erences in the groups.
Results: It was noted that the most prevalent lip pattern was Type I while; the least was the Type V pattern. A Type III lip pattern was absent. There was a signifi cant correlation between Type I lip pattern and Skeletal Class III malocclusion. Also, there were signifi cant gender diff erences in lip print patterns in skeletal class I malocclusion with no diff erences in skeletal class II and class III malocclusion.
Conclusion: Lip prints can be a useful aid in predicting the type of skeletal malocclusion as they develop early in life, therefore, can be successfully used for preventative and interceptive orthodontic procedures. Hence, lip prints can be used as early detectors of skeletal malocclusions.
Key Messages: Since the craniofacial skeleton and lips print both develop at the same embryonic stage, developmental variables that result in malocclusions may also be refl ected in the lip print patterns.