Open AccessDermatoglyphics: A prediction tool for dental caries
Author(s) -
Smitha Sammith Shetty,
Abigail Renee Johnli,
Nur Fatihah Binti Mohd,
Siti Nabila Adilah Binti Md Nor,
Amirah Binti Haron,
a Lavinia,
p Gunasegaram,
Muhammad Nur Taufiq Bin Mustafa,
Nor Hafizah Ain Binti Mohd Zakaria
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
international journal of dental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2310-2993
DOI - 10.14419/ijdr.v4i2.6394
Subject(s) - dermatoglyphics , whorl (mollusc) , thumb , medicine , dental arch , dentistry , orthodontics , biology , anatomy , genetics , botany , genus
Background: Dermatoglyphics has been used as a powerful tool in diagnosis of physiological, medical or genetic conditions. Hence its role in predicting the dental caries which is a multifactorial disease with genetic influence has to be investigated.Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the role of dermatoglyphics in predicting the susceptibility of individuals to develop dental caries.Material and methods: The study included 200 students of MMMC Manipal. Dental caries pattern was recorded using the DMFT index. The impression of thumb ridge pattern was recorded using duplicating inkpads.Results: The male subjects showed maximum of loop pattern with 53.6% and 71% in right and left thumb respectively. The female subjects also showed the maximum of loop pattern with 54.2% both in right and left thumb. Subjects who had arch type of pattern on right thumb (66.7%) and left thumb (57.1%) were found to be caries free compared to loop and whorl pattern. Subjects with whorl pattern on the left thumb (34.2%) and right (34.9%) had DMFT > 3 compared to loop and arch.Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics serve to strengthen the diagnostic impression of the disease from an early age and hence preventive oral health measures can be considered.