Association of Dermatoglyphic Peculiarities with Dental Caries in Preschool Children of Lucknow, India.
BACKGROUND
Dermatoglyphics refers to study of the intricate dermal ridge configurations on the skin covering the palmar and plantar surfaces of hand and feet. The basis of considering dermatoglyphic patterns as genetic marker for dental caries is that the epithelium of finger buds as well as enamel has ectodermal origin, and both develop at the same time of intrauterine life.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between fingerprint patterns and dental caries among preschool children of Lucknow city.


METHODS
This study was of cross-sectional design.


METHODS
The study group comprised 512 preschool children 2-6 years of age. The prevalence of caries was recorded using "Dentition status and treatment needs" (WHO basic oral health assessment form, 1997). They were divided into three groups as follows: Group I (dmft score = 0-2), group II (dmft score = 3-4) and group III (dmft score ≥5). The handprints of each child were taken using a stamp pad. The fingertip patterns were analyzed according to the classical method and were classified according to the topological method. The frequency of occurrence of type of dermatoglyphic pattern on fingertip of each digit was noted.


METHODS
Chi-square test was used to test the significant difference in proportions. Means were compared using Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) or F-test.


RESULTS
Subjects belonging to groups II and III showed maximum occurrence of whorl pattern on all digits. Group I subjects had maximum occurrence of arch pattern. All the variables had statistically significant value, with a degree of divergence of specific dermatoglyphic patterns among all three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The dental caries susceptibility of an individual increased with incidence of whorl pattern and it decreased with incidence of arch pattern. How to cite this article: Singh E, Saha S, Jagannath GV, Singh S, Saha S, Garg N. Association of Dermatoglyphic Peculiarities with Dental Caries in Preschool Children of Lucknow, India. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9(1):39-44.
Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, India.
Ekta
E
Singh
Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sabyasachi
S
Saha
Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, India.
G V
GV
Jagannath
Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sanjay
S
Singh
Reader, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sonali
S
Saha
Lecturer, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sardar Patel Post Graduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nishita
N
Garg
Dental caries; Dermatoglyphics; Fingerprint pattern; Preschool children.