Dermatoglyphics-a New Diagnostic Tool in Detection of Dental Caries in Children

Introduction: Dermatoglyphics is the study of dermal ridge configurations on palmar and plantar surfaces of hands and feet. Dermal ridges and craniofacial structures are both formed during 6-7th week of intra-uterine life, therefore hereditary and environmental factors leading to Dental caries may also cause peculiarities in fingerprint patterns.

Objective: This study compares and evaluates the dermatoglyphic peculiarities and caries experience of Deaf and mute children with those of healthy children.

Design: A total of 200 school children aged 6-16 years were selected using purposive and simple random sampling.Their fingerprints were recorded with duplicating ink and caries experience was clinically assessed by dmft/DMFT index.

Results: Mann-Whitney test revealed statistical association between whorl patterns and loop patters in caries and caries free group (P<0.001).However, no overall statistical association was observed between fingerprint patterns between deaf and mute children and healthy children (P<0.001). Caries experience was higher amongst the deaf and mute children (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics could be an appropriate method to explore the possibility of a noninvasive and an early predictor for dental caries and hearing impairment in children so as to initiate the preventive oral health measures at an early age.