An in vivo Investigation into an Inexpensive Diagnostic Tool for Predicting Susceptibility to Dental Caries: Dermatoglyphics

Aim: Dental caries is a convoluted, chronic, multifactorial disease. The correlative roles of heredity and environment (nature vs. nurture) in the origination and development of dental caries have intrigued scientific researchers.To examine and analyze the role of dermatoglyphics in predicting the susceptibility of individuals to developing dental caries. Materials and Methods: 100 children in the age group 5-12 years were examined during a school screening camp. They were divided into four groups as follows: Caries-free males (decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT] score =0), caries-free females (DMFT score =0), males with caries (DMFT score ≥5), and females with caries (DMFT score ≥5). The handprints of each child were taken and the frequency of occurrence of particular type of dermatoglyphic pattern on the fingertip of each digit was noted. Separate DMFT scores were recorded and analyzed. Statistical analysis was undertaken using nonparametric tests and t-test to compare the dermatoglyphic pattern changes between the two groups and was applied for each variable, to compare the proportions and P value. Results: A correlation was observed between caries susceptibility and fingerprint patterns in the subjects. The female caries group showed maximum occurrence of whorls than the caries-free group and the whorl pattern was found to be more prevalent in females on their left hand thumb than in males, who showed more whorls on their right hand thumb and 3rd digit. Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics can be used as an inexpensive noninvasive tool for diagnosing susceptibility to caries.