Introduction: Dermatoglyphics is the study of epidermal ridges on the planter & palmer surface of human skin. These patterns are genetically inherited by polygenic system with individual genes which can serve as a diagnostic tool to determine various systemic problems like diabetes, hypertension, schizophrenia, etc and even malignant lesions.
Aims: To study various dermatoglyphic patterns in diabetes mellitus & chronic periodontitis & whether it can be used as possible risk indicator in periodontitis patients for the future predilection of diabetes mellitus.
Study Design: Finger-prints of total 75 patients divided in 3 groups were recorded using ink stamp method, ie healthy group (CGG), periodontitis group (CGP) and periodontitis with diabetes mellitus group (CGP+DM). The prints of all 10 fingers of each patient were taken and were analyzed with the help of 2X-3X magnifying glass. The collected data was subjected to statistical tests.
Results: Overall (CGP+DM) showed to have more number of loops. (CGP+DM) have more number of whorls when compared to CGP group. CGG has more arches when compared to the other two groups. CGP group has more loops compared to CGG group.
Conclusion: Chronic periodontitis patients with more number of whorls are at a higher risk of having diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Periodontitis; Dermatoglyphics; Diabetes Mellitus; Finger Pattern.