Cheiloscopy for Sex Determination: A Study

Objective: To find out the possibility of sex determination of an individual using lip prints. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 patients (20 males and 20 females) of the age group 20-30 years were included in this study. Lip impressions were made using lipstick, cellophane tape, and white bond paper. Tsuchihashi's classification of lip prints was used for analysis using magnifying glass. Results: The analysis revealed that 12 females (60%) and 15 males (75%) were identified correctly with the lip prints. Type III pattern was predominant in males and Type I/I' pattern was predominant in females. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the potential use of lip prints for sex determination in forensic dentistry, as they are unique to every individual.