Systematic Analysis of Palatal Rugae Pattern for Use in Human Identification between Two Different Populations

Area of Science:

• Forensic Odontology
• Anthropology

Background:

• Palatal rugae are crucial for human identification in mass disasters due to their presence and resistance to change.
• This study investigates palatal rugae variations in populations from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare the shape and number of palatal rugae between individuals from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• To identify population-specific characteristics of palatal rugae for forensic applications.

Main Methods:

• A study was conducted on 200 subjects (100 from Andhra Pradesh, 100 from Telangana), gender-matched.
• Palatal rugae were classified using Kapali.S classification.
• Chi-square analysis and student t-test were used to assess variations in rugae shape, number, and gender differences.

Main Results:

• The Andhra Pradesh population exhibited a higher average number of palatal rugae (11.84±3.03) compared to the Telangana population (9.50±1.65).
• Significant variations in the number and shape of rugae were observed between the two populations, with Andhra Pradesh showing more wavy, curved, and straight rugae, and Telangana showing more circular rugae.
• Males from Andhra Pradesh had a significantly higher mean number of total rugae than males from Telangana.

Conclusions:

• Statistically significant differences in both the shape and total number of palatal rugae exist between the populations of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering regional variations in palatal rugae for accurate forensic identification.