Review Article

Year : 2016 | Volume : 7 | Issue : 4 | Page : 144-147

Dermatoglyphics and orthodontics

S Achalli1, M Patla2, USK Nayak2, CR Soans2

1 Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India, 2 Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Correspondence Address:

S Achalli

Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE University, Mangalore - 575 018, Karnataka, India.

Abstract:

Dermatoglyphics is the study of fingerprints and skin patterns. These appear at the 12 th week of intrauterine life and are completely established by the 24 th week of intrauterine life. It is said that thereafter, these configurations remain constant throughout life. It is during the same embryonic period that finger and palm prints, the lip, alveolus, and palate develop. As a result, any factor causing changes in the lip, alveolus, and palate may also cause different patterns in the appearance of finger and palm prints. Hence, fingerprint patterns and other details of dermal ridges may offer distinct advantages and thus may be used as a screening tool, which is easily accessible, economical, and noninvasive marker to detect early malocclusion.

Source of Support: 

None

Conflict of Interest: 

None

DOI: 10.4103/2349-5243.197462

How to cite this article: Achalli S, Patla M, Nayak U, Soans CR. Dermatoglyphics and orthodontics. Int J Orthod Rehabil 2016;7:144-7.