Cheiloscopy and Dactyloscopy as Behavior Assessment Tool in Dental Settings: A Cross-sectional Study

Assessment of children's behavior in the dental setting and its correlation with thumb print and lip print.

The behavior pattern, lip print pattern, and thumb print pattern of 518 children aged 5-12 years were recorded in their first dental visit. The behavior pattern, lip print pattern, and thumb print pattern were determined using Frankl's Behavior Rating Scale, Tsuchihashi's classification, and Cummin's classification, respectively. The data were tabulated according to the classified criteria and statistically analyzed.

It was observed that positive and definitely positive Frankl Behavior was associated with the children bearing an arch pattern of thumb print, whereas their lip pattern had no association with their behavior pattern, particularly in dental sittings.

Thumb print pattern can aid as a behavior marker before a child's first dental appointment and this can prove beneficial for both the child and the clinician in providing a high quality of dental care and modify behavior for future dental appointments.

Navit S, Pramanik S, Khan SA, et al. Cheiloscopy and Dactyloscopy as Behavior Assessment Tool in Dental Settings: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):238-242.