Assessment of relationship between dermatoglyphics, dental caries and mutans streptococci levels among 3–6 year old children in Davangere city-A cross sectional survey

Abstract

Objectives : To assess the relationship between dermatoglyphics, dental caries and salivary Mutans Streptococci levels among 3-6 year old children in Davangere city. Materials and method : Children of 3-6 year old who had DMFT/deft ≥ 5 were selected as cases (n=115) and those who had DMFT/ deft=0 were selected as controls (n=115) from primary schools. Dermatoglyphics was recorded using ink stamp pad method and interpreted using magnifying lens(10x). Salivary Mutans Streptococcus levels were estimated by microbial culture of the collected salivary samples. Unpaired t test was used to compare the means of frequency of dermatoglyphic patterns and Mutans streptococci between the groups and Pearson's correlation test was used to test the correlation between the dermatoglyphic patterns, dental caries and salivary Mutans Streptococci. Results : The cases had low frequency of loops of 3.62±2.39 when compared to controls who had 6.35±2.62 (p<0.001). The frequency of whorls in cases was 3.4± 2.88 when compared to controls, 2.1 ±2.51 (p<0.05). With respect to arches, the cases had more frequency of arches 2.72 ± 2.46 and controls had 1.06 ± 1.65 (p<0.001). The cases had high salivary S. Mutans growth (CFU per ml), 11.9 x 106 ± 27.83 when compared to controls who had 5.5 x 106 ±17.73 (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between mean DMFT/ deft and the frequency of loops (r = - 0.51, p<0.001) and a positive correlation between mean DMFT/deft and salivary Mutans Streptococci (r = 0.76, p<0.001). Positive correlation was also found with mean DMFT/deft and frequency of whorls (r = 0.17, p < 0.05) and also for frequency of arches (r = 0.38, p<0.001). Conclusions : Cases had less frequency of loops and more frequency of whorls and arches when compared to controls. Cases had high salivary Mutans Streptococci when compared to controls. There was a negative correlation between DMFT/deft and frequency of loops and a positive correlation between the DMFT/deft and salivary Mutans Streptococci. A poor correlation was found between DMFT/deft and frequency of whorls and also between DMFT/deft and frequency of arches.