ASSESSMENT OF CHEILOSCOPY IN STOMATOLOGY.

Lip grooves are unchangeable, permanent and unique to one person and they play a huge role as a marker of sagital jaw relation and gender differentiation. Identification of people is often very difficult, challenging and time-consuming process. The most used techniques in identification processes are DNA comparison, fingerprints and odontometrics measurements. However DNA is very expensive and cannot be used for everyone. Hence fingerprints sometimes in burns also cannot be conducted because of severe decomposition. Sometimes is necessary to apply different and less known techniques. Lip grooves are nonusual, simple, reliable, cost – effective, noninvasive techniques that can be used successfully in human identification. This article reviews different conclusions of authors who researched about these topics. The aim of the study is to establish identity of population of South-East Kosovo, selected among schools of this region, 14 to18 year old, divided equally between girls and boys, using Cheiloscopy. Material and methods: The study involves 17 adolescents of South-East of Kosovo selected among schools of this region, 14- to 18-year-old. All participants are well informed for the purpose of the study and signed an informed consent prepared before the examination. Lip prints are recorded using red lip stick. Materials that are being used are: White paper A4 size white paper, Cellophane tape (10 cm long), Graphite pencil (AIHAO 0.7 mm), Dark red color lipstick, nonglossy (pretty by flormar), Magnifying lens, Scissors. The lipstick is applied with cotton wools gently into the lips and spread over, evenly in upper and lower lip. The lip prints are taken with cellophane tape in the relaxed position of lips. Then the lip prints are immediately stocked on to a piece of white bond paper for further analyses, by using magnifying lens. Also, the thickness and length of the lips will be measured separately for the upper lip and for the lower lip with standard Vernier caliper (0-150 mm) Results: The predominant lip pattern in both genders is Type II lip pattern followed by type I. The most predominant lip pattern among males is type I and II, and Type II & IV lip pattern among females. Conclusion: Cheiloscopy reveals strong association with sagital skeletal jaw relation, thus predicting malocclusions that could be managed early with preventive and interceptive orthodontics. Cheiloscopy also has the role in identification of people in forensic medicine, because identification of human bodies sometimes is very challenging task. When DNA and fingerprints in several circumstances could not be done, lip prints could be considered as an alternative source for identification, because of their highly unique structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]