An assessment of dermatoglyphic patterns correlation with the sagittal skeletal discrepancies and oral clefts: A clinical research

The aim of the present research study was to assess the correlation of various Dermatoglyphic patterns with the sagittal skeletal discrepancies and oral clefts. Pre-treatment digital lateral cephalograms of forty patients were taken in natural head position obtained. The sagittal jaw relation was determined with assessment of the following parameters: SNA, SNB, ANB, Wit’s appraisal, condylion to Point A, condylion to gnathion, angle of convexity and facial angle (Steiner’s, Down’s, McNamara and Wits Appraisal). The Dermatoglyphic of patients were taken with the help of Cummins and Midlo method. The fingerprints were recorded using the ink stamp method. The dried distal phalanges of both hands were rolled on an ink pad and stamped on paper which was fixed in place with adhesive tape. The prints obtained were assessed for the frequency of arches, loops and whorls. The dermatoglyphic results that were noted among the 4 groups showed a significant 38% of Arch pattern prevalent in the Class I subjects, 61% of Whorl pattern in Class II subjects, 67% of Loop pattern in Class III subjects and 71% of Loop pattern in Cleft subjects. The percentage distribution of the Dermatoglyphic patterns within the three groups of sagittal skeletal discrepancies and clefts for the 10 fingers (N=40) were evaluated for their significant association based on Fisher’s exact test. Furthermore, Chi-square test indicated a statistically significant (p<0.001) association between the dermatoglyphic patterns and sagittal skeletal discrepancies and clefts, more than 54% of Class I subjects showed a positive correlation with Arch pattern, 33 % of Class III subjects and 35% of Cleft subjects indicated Loop pattern prevalence, whereas 46% of the Class II subjects showed a high tendency for the Whorl pattern.No significant type of Dermatoglyphic pattern in Skeletal Class I malocclusions. There was increased frequency of Whorl pattern in Skeletal Class II malocclusions and increased frequency of Loop pattern in Skeletal Class III malocclusions and clefts. The patients with the oral clefts generally don’t have the proper maxillary development due to which they have the tendency towards the development of Skeletal Class III malocclusion, so presence of loop pattern in Class III malocclusion and oral clefts was seen.