Identification of Dermal Crease Patterns as a Link between Genetics and Periodontitis: Reliability and Credibility

The disruptions in the ectodermal layer during intrauterine growth in the process of the formation of epidermal ridges can be linked to the association between dermatoglyphics and abnormalities of the tooth and periodontium. Given the genetic linkage of periodontal disease this study was hypothesized at observing the association of chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis, and individuals with healthy periodontium as per the 1999 AAP classification of periodontitis with their fingerprint patterns and ridge count. The comparison between three groups showed a statistically significant difference between increased percentage frequency of radial loops (28) in chronic periodontitis and plain whorls (26.3) in aggressive periodontitis. There was a significant difference between ridge count among all the three groups, the highest being in healthy and the least between aggressive periodontal conditions. Observations of the study show that there was a difference in fingerprint pattern between patients of all the three periodontal conditions indicating a link between epidermal ridges and condition of periodontium.