title: A comparative study of dermatoglyphics in individuals with normal occlusions and malocclusions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatoglyphics is the study on edpidermal ridges on the palmar and plantar surfaces of the feet and hand. Embryological development of orodental structures and these dermal patterns occur during the same period. The environmentally influenced genetic predisposition is found in different types of malocclusions. This malocclusion should also exhibit different dermal patterns which are unique for each class.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to compare the Dermatoglyphics parameters of individuals with normal occlusions and various classes of malocclusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were divided into four groups; Group 1: class I ideal; Group 2: class I malocclusionl; Group 3: class II Div 1 and Div 2; Group IV: class III. The finger and palmar prints were obtained and they were analyzed for each type of pattern. The Total Finger Fridge Count (TFRC), a-b ridge count and the angle "atd" (angle formed by connecting lines from digital triradius 'a' to the axial triradius and from this triradius to the digital triradius 'd') were associated with particular groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data was entered and analyzed by using Students t-test and ANOVA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Particular predictive occurrence of patterns was not found to be associated with each group. However, some of the finger patterns, such as increase in twinned loops in class II malocclusions and absence of radial loops in class III malocclusions were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). The parameters associated with palmar prints had no statistical significance. Further studies with more samples in each group should be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Government Dental College , Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Boggula Rama Mohan
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Orthodontics, Government Dental College , Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Singaraju Gowri
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.affiliation: Former Professor and Head, Department of Orthodontics, JSS Dental College , Mysore, karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: E T
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Government Dental College , Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Supraja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govulla
keywords: Dermatoglyphics; Finger pattern; Malocclusion; Occlusion