Rugae patterns as an adjunct to sex differentiation in forensic identification

Area of Science:

• Forensic Odontology
• Human Identification
• Anthropology

Background:

• Palatal rugae, the unique folds in the roof of the mouth, are increasingly recognized for their potential in individual identification.
• Understanding variations in palatal rugae patterns across different populations is crucial for forensic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify distinct palatal rugae patterns within the Maharashtra population.
• To investigate gender-based differences in these rugae patterns.
• To underscore the significance of palatal rugae in establishing personal identity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 600 dental casts from individuals aged 18 and above.
• Delineation of palatal rugae using a graphite pencil under magnification.
• Recording rugae characteristics: shape, number, size, and direction.

Main Results:

• The wavy rugae pattern (92.3%) was the most prevalent overall.
• Wavy rugae patterns were significantly more common in females.
• The point type rugae pattern (9.8%) was observed more frequently in males.

Conclusions:

• Palatal rugae patterns exhibit population-specific and gender-related variations.
• Rugae pattern analysis can serve as a valuable supplementary method for post-mortem identification in forensic science.
• This method can be used alongside visual identification, fingerprints, and other dental characteristics.