Prevalence and heritability of dental caries and malocclusion in Haryana: A family-based study

Background: Genetics could be one of the factors in determining oral health and disease in families and the interplay of genetics with environmental factors can affect the prevalence of oral diseases. Aim: To evaluate the genetic influence on dental caries and malocclusion. Objective: To assess the prevalence of dental caries and malocclusion in the family tree. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 26 families of Barwala, District Panchkula, Haryana, India. Clinical examination was conducted to assess dental caries [Decayed Filled Surface Index (DFS/dfs)] and malocclusion (Dental Aesthetic Index). Heritability within the study population was assessed within the pairs: grandparent-grandchildren pair and parent-children pair. Data were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics version-24. Results: Dental caries prevalence in grandfather-grandchildren pairs was 35.29% as compared to grandmother-grandchildren pair (36.36%), whereas father-children pair had 38% and mother-children pair had 42.59%. Statistically significant results were obtained for caries in grandmother-grandchildren pairs, father-children pair, and mother-children pair but not for grandfather-grandchildren. The prevalence of malocclusion in grandfather-grandchildren pairs was 70.58% as compared to grandmother-grandchildren pairs (13.63%), whereas the father-children pair had 52% and mother-children pair had 20.37%. Statistically, a significant result was obtained for a malocclusion among grandparent-grandchildren pair and parent-children pair. Conclusion: This study attempts at defining genetic implications in dental caries and malocclusion process. Caries prevalence was higher in mother-children pairs than in the father-children pair. The grandfather-grandchildren pairs had a higher prevalence of malocclusion than grandmother-grandchildren pairs. Thus, the study leads to improved understanding and prevention of the factors leading to them.