Correlation of dental caries and dermatoglyphic patterns: A study in pediatric population

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is the most prevalent chronic disease among children worldwide irrespective of the advancements in oral healthcare. The basis of considering dermatoglyphic patterns as marker for dental caries is that the epithelium of finger buds and enamel are both ectodermal in origin and develop during the same period of intrauterine life. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To record and evaluate the dermatoglyphic patterns, its correlation with early childhood caries (ECC) and to predict its efficacy in assessing the caries risk. METHOD: The study was carried out on 100 school going children within the age group of 36–71 months. Study population was divided into two groups comprising of 50 individuals each on the basis of def score, experimental group (def ≥ 1) and control group (def score 0). Dermatoglyphic patterns of all ten palmar digits were recorded using Cummins and Midlo method and assessed using a magnifying glass (2×). RESULTS: Statistically significant increase in number of whorls was found in ECC group, whereas higher number of loops was seen in control group. In ECC group, value of both, the mean axial t triradius angle and mean total ridge count was low as compared to the caries-free group. CONCLUSION: There is definite variation in dermatoglyphics between the ECC and caries-free group, indicating that dermatoglyphic patterns can be used as a non-invasive predictive tool for children with ECC.