Fingerprint Pattern and Malocclusion Types among the Students of Teaching Hospital of Lumbini Province of Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study
Nabin Kumar Chaudhary, Roshan Kumar Yadav, Suvin Chaudhary, Arun Kumar Mahat, Manoj Kumar Thakur, Shyam Kishor Chaudhary
A
BSTRACT
Background:
Dermatoglyphics, the scientific study of fingerprint patterns, is a reliable, non-invasive, and economical method for investigating genetic and developmental traits. Since both fingerprints and craniofacial structures originate from the ectoderm during embryogenesis, exploring their association may offer insights into the early prediction of malocclusion, a common dental anomaly.
Objective:
To determine the association between fingerprint patterns and malocclusion types among students of a teaching hospital in Lumbini Province, Nepal.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 390 students aged 17–30 years at Nepalgunj Medical College. Fingerprints from all 10 fingers were collected using stamp pads and classified into arches, loops (ulnar/radial), and whorls. Malocclusion was assessed clinically using Angle’s classification. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, and the Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association between fingerprint patterns and malocclusion, with a significance level of
Results:
The most common fingerprint patterns were ulnar loops (49.90%) and whorls (33.84%), followed by arches (13.03%) and radial loops (3.23%). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of arches and malocclusion types (
Conclusion:
Dermatoglyphic patterns, particularly arches, may be associated with malocclusion. Dermatoglyphics could serve as a valuable tool for early orthodontic screening.