Dermatoglyphics as a Non Invasive Diagnostic Tool for Predicting Caries Risk in Specially Abled Children

Abstract

Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the dermatoglyphic configuration of specially abled and healthy children by comparing the variations that occur in these patterns and evaluating the caries experience associated with it. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study in which dermatoglyphic patterns along with deft and DMFT index was recorded in 100 children of age 6-16 years divided into two groups of 50 each (50-specially abled and 50- normal children). Results: Statistical analysis was done using MANN-WHITNEY U test. Specially abled children showed increased number of loop configurations compared to healthy children and high caries risk children in both the groups showed increased number of arches and decrease in the number of whorls with no statistical significance (P >0.005). Conclusion: With further research in this field, dermatoglyphic patterns can prove to be an effective diagnostic tool in diagnosis of diseases with a genetic cause.

Keywords

• Dermatoglyphics
• Dental caries
• Genetics.