Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part F (2021)

Introduction: Palmar prints or palmar dermatoglyphics has been useful in understanding the unanswered questions in biology, medicine, genetics and evolution. The role of dermatoglyphics in the study of chromosomal diseases and cardiac disease are explored in the past but their importance in dentistry is yet at infant stage. Oral cancer can be treated efficiently at an early stage by targeting the pre-cancerous lesion (Ptentially malignant diseases (PMDs)) improving the survival rates.

Aim and Objectives: The present study is conducted to co-relate the role of dermatoglyphics in determining the risk of developing potentially malignant diseases (PMDs) in patients with use of smoke tobacco and tobacco chewers.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectionl study was planned with the consent from institutional ethical committee and patient for taking the palmar prints. Five groups depending on the status of the habit (smoke tobacco with PMD, non smoke tobacco with PMD, combination of smoke and non smoke with PMD, Smoke or non smoke tobacco with NO PMD and control) were devided randomly each comprising of 20 patients. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria the included patients were subjected for obtaining the palmar prints which were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively and data obtained was statistically evaluated.

Results: Qualitative analysis shows that simple arch patterns were common in Group 2 (the smoke tobacco users with PMD). Plain whorl patterns were common in Group 4 (the combination of smoke and non smoke tobacco users with PMD).

Quantitative analysis shows that left and right ATD angle were prominent in Group 5 (patient with tobacco habit with NO PMD). Right AB ridge count was prominent in Group 2(the smoke tobacco users with PMD) and Group 4(the combination of smoke and non smoke tobacco users with PMD). Right AB ridge count was in the range 29.8-30.50. ATD angles are in the range 40-42 degrees.

Conclusion: Dermatoglyphics has moved from obscurity to acceptability as a diagnostic tool which can be appreciated from this study.