Dermatoglyphic Patterns and Aggressive Periodontal Diseases – A Possible Link ?

Background: Role of host genes in the etiopathogenesis of periodontal diseases have been useful in developing screening tools for identifying patients who are likely to develop disease. With the risk for aggressive periodontal disease being substantially heritable, search for new screening tools are in the forefront. Dermatoglyphics being one such diagnostic tool has been an area of research. Although periodontal diseases have multifactorial etiology, their genetic determinants that exist could be suggestive of specific dermatoglyphic patterns for aggressive periodontitis. Hence the present study attempted to find any specific dermatoglyphic patterns in aggressive periodontitis. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the palmar dermatoglyphic features in aggressive periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy individuals. Material and Methods: The finger-tip prints of 15 patients with aggressive Periodontitis and 15 periodontally healthy subjects were obtained. The finger tip patterns were analysed with the help of Automated Finger print Identification System (AFIS). The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Within the limitations of the present study however, an increased frequency of ulnar loops were found on all fingers of patients with aggressive periodontitis.