Dermatoglyphic Patterns in Patients Having Impacted and Erupted Third Molars—A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND: The dermatoglyphics have been used in several researches for predicting various pathologies of oral cavity like periodontitis, dental caries, impacted teeth, mal-occlusion, developmental defects such as cleft lip and palate, and potentially malignant disorders. Impacted teeth may be associated with various pathologies such as caries, pericoronitis, dentigerous cysts, and keratocystic odontogenic tumors; therefore, predicting impacted teeth through dermatoglyphic patterns can help in diagnosis and future treatment planning of such event. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim and objective of the study were to evaluate and compare various dermatoglyphic patterns in the patients with the impacted maxillary and/or mandibular third molar (group 1) and patients having erupted maxillary and/or mandibular third molar (group 2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised totally 300 patients, which were divided into two groups, according to erupted or impacted maxillary and/or mandibular third molar visiting outpatient department, who fulfilled the selection criteria for the study. After a comprehensive clinical examination, dermatoglyphic patterns were recorded from the same individuals. Panoramic radiographs were taken to confirm the diagnosis. Data collected were entered in the spreadsheet and analyzed. For all tests, P value was set at <0.05 and was considered statistically significant. RESULT: There was statistical significance noted in frequencies of whorl pattern in patients of group 1 and loop pattern in patients of group 2. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that dermatoglyphic patterns can be used to assess the prevalence of impacted wisdom teeth.