Association between dermatoglyphics and early childhood caries among preschool children: A pilot study

Context: Primary teeth and dermal ridges form around the same time in utero. Hereditary and intrauterine factors affecting the formation of primary teeth may affect dermal ridge formation also. Aims: This pilot study was conducted to see the association between dermatoglyphics and dental caries among preschool children Settings and Design: Cross sectional, case-control design. Materials and Methods: One hundred, healthy preschool children aged 3-6 years attending private kindergarten participated. They were divided equally into caries active and caries free group based on the oral examination. The fingerprint patterns were collected for all the fingers of both hands of children and categorized as loop, whorl or arch for each finger of the right and left hand. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test and Independent t-test to compare the dermatoglyphics patterns between the caries-free group and the caries active group for each variable. Results: (1) Dental caries susceptibility of an individual decreases with an increase in the incidence of loop pattern, followed by whorl pattern and arch pattern; (2) Left hand loop was found statistically significant (P = 0.03); (3) Presence of loop pattern in left hand thumb predicts significantly lower risk of caries, whereas the presence of arch pattern in left hand thumb predicts significantly high risk of early childhood caries (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The caries free status of a preschool child increased with the presence of loop on the left thumb.