Evaluation of the Relationship Between Dental Caries and Dermatoglyphics in 3 to 6-Year-Old Iranian children

Abstract

Background: As enamel and finger buds have an ectodermal origin and grow at the same time, it might be supposed that factors and agents that affect dental caries might give rise to the diversity of dermatoglyphic dermal ridge patterns. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dental caries and dermatoglyphics in 3 to 6-year-old Iranian children. Methods: The present case-control study was performed on 3 to 6-year-old children. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) scale was used to evaluate the oral and dental health status in the participants. Then, the patients were divided into two groups: 1) The case group: patients with a dmft of ≥3 (101 cases); 2) the control group: those with dmft value of zero (86 cases). Afterward, using a fingerprint recording device, the fingerprints were obtained from both hands of the participants. Results: There was no significant relationship between the patterns of fingerprints and dental caries. The percentages of whorls, loops, and arches in the case group were higher than those in the control group; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Dermatoglyphic patterns could not be used as a variable for the detection or prediction of dental caries in Iranian children.