Rugae patterns as an adjunct to sex differentiation in forensic identification

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Odontology

Background:

• Traditional identification methods like fingerprints, DNA, and dental records have limitations in forensic identification.
• Palatal rugae patterns present a potential adjunct for sex determination and identification of the deceased.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare palatal rugae patterns in Indian males and females.
• To evaluate the utility of palatal rugae patterns as an additional sex differentiation method in forensic scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Dental stone casts from 120 Indian individuals (60 males, 60 females) were analyzed.
• Palatal rugae patterns were identified and classified based on number, length, shape, and unification (Thomas and Kotze, 1983; Kapali et al, 1997).
• Logistic regression analysis (LRA) was employed to assess sex prediction accuracy.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in the total number or length measurements of rugae between sexes.
• Converging rugae shapes were more prevalent in females, while circular rugae shapes were more common in males.
• Logistic regression analysis achieved over 99% accuracy in sex prediction using rugae shapes.

Conclusions:

• Palatal rugae patterns, particularly their shapes, can significantly aid in differentiating between Indian males and females.
• The integration of palatal rugae analysis with LRA provides a valuable supplementary tool for forensic identification, enhancing traditional methods.