Associations Between Dermatoglyphic Patterns and Oral Diseases in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology and Oral Health
• Genetics and Developmental Biology

Background:

• Dermatoglyphics, the study of epidermal ridge patterns, develops concurrently with the oral-craniofacial complex.
• These patterns are stable throughout life, making them potential non-invasive markers for developmental conditions.
• Previous research suggests possible associations between dermatoglyphic traits and oral diseases in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between dermatoglyphic features and three pediatric oral conditions: dental caries, malocclusion, and nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P).

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Searched Medline, Ovid, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar (1990-2025) for cross-sectional and case-control studies.
• Included 15 studies (approx. 7,300 children) assessing qualitative (loops, whorls, arches) and quantitative (atd angle, ridge counts) dermatoglyphic traits.

Main Results:

• Increased frequency of whorls and decreased frequency of loops observed in children with dental caries.
• Significant variations in arches noted in relation to dental caries.
• Lower total ridge count, higher a-b ridge counts, and greater fluctuating asymmetry found in children with NSCL/P.
• Inconsistent class-specific pattern shifts observed in malocclusion studies.

Conclusions:

• Dermatoglyphic traits, particularly whorls, loops, and atd angles, exhibit potential associations with pediatric oral conditions.
• These traits may serve as low-cost indicators, though not diagnostic.
• Further large-scale, multicenter, longitudinal studies are needed to validate these findings, addressing heterogeneity and potential biases.