Assessment of lip and finger print patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dental caries: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Globally, the prevalence of diabetes and dental caries has been soaring high in recent times. There is a constant effort in the scientific community to develop a reliable and economic early predictor which can serve the purpose of mass screening of genetically vulnerable populations. The present study attempts to evaluate the different types of lip prints and finger prints in diabetes mellitus and dental caries and to see association between the most common diseases (diabetes mellitus and dental caries) if any.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study subjects included 100 subjects (50 uncontrolled Type II diabetes mellitus patients and 50 healthy controls) in the age group of 30-80 years among the population of Lucknow. Lip prints were obtained using lipstick and cellophane paper, analysed, and classified using Suzuki and Tsuchihashi's classification. Finger prints were obtained using inkpad, analysed, and classified using Henry's system of classification.

RESULTS

We found loop-type fingerprints and type IV lip prints associated with diabetic patients. Non-diabetics showed loop-type fingerprints and type I lip prints. We found increased dental caries incidence (DMFT scores) in diabetics. Diabetic subjects with caries showed loop fingerprints, which reiterated our earlier findings but are not associated with type IV lip prints. Non-diabetics with caries showed arch fingerprints, but they are not associated with type I lip prints. We found that DMFT scores that we used to assess caries did not associate well with lip prints.

CONCLUSION

The results from our study strongly suggest that dermatoglyphics can be used as a non-invasive technique to mass screen for diabetes as well as dental caries as both diseases are predominantly associated with loop-type fingerprints. Type IV lip prints could be used to screen for diabetes, but no association of lip prints was seen in patients with caries.