AbstractAim: To find the incidence of different types of lip patterns, quadrant wise dominant pattern, and to study various subtypes of Type V pattern Methodology: Lip prints of 100 students studying in Goa Dental College & Hospital were taken using 14 mm wide and 50 mm long Scotch tape without any distortion. These prints were then scanned (256 gray shades at a resolution of 300 dpi.) for the digital analysis. Using various applications of Adobe Photoshop 7 software an attempt was made to trace each and every line. K. Suzuki and Y. Tsuchihashi’s classification was followed to define the patterns of the grooves. Results: The current study has found the most predominant pattern in all four Quadrants to be Type V followed in order by Type I’, Type I, Type II, Type IV and then Type III except in Quadrant IV Type I pattern was found to be more prevelant than Type I’. The present study recorded the following types of type V patterns for the first time; Trifurcations, Bridge or ‘H’ pattern, Horizontal Lines, Cartwheel, Pineapple Skin and Multiple Branching Appearance Conclusion: The analysis of Lip prints with digital method provides better visualization, ease in identification and recording of the Lip Print pattern. Predominant pattern in all four quadrants was Type V. Although type V is the most predominant pattern reported in the present study, the sub classification of this type defines the more defined term and aids in accuracy of the classification.
Key words: Lip Prints; Cheiloscopy; Digital analysis; Sub-classification of type V.