Palatal rugae assessment using plaster model and dental scan: a cross-sectional comparative analysis

Area of Science:

• Forensic Dentistry
• Dental Technology

Background:

• Palatal rugae (PR) exhibit unique and consistent patterns, making them valuable in forensic dentistry for personal identification.
• Traditional methods for capturing PR patterns involve alginate impressions and plaster models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy of palatal rugae impressions obtained using a conventional alginate method versus an intraoral scanner.
• To evaluate the reliability of digital impressions against traditional methods and photographic records for personal identification.

Main Methods:

• 19 patients underwent conventional alginate and digital intraoral scanner impressions of their palatal rugae.
• Impressions and photographs were analyzed using FaceComp™ software to assess parameters like distances, perimeters, areas, and shape factors.
• Statistical analysis was performed using Python 3.9.

Main Results:

• Data from digital and plaster models showed strong correlations across all assessed parameters.
• No statistically significant differences were found between the conventional and digital impression methods for palatal rugae.
• Both methods demonstrated high reliability in capturing palatal rugae patterns.

Conclusions:

• Digital and traditional methods for palatal rugae impression are equally effective for personal identification.
• FaceComp™ software aids in accurate comparison and identification by aligning landmarks.
• Further research is needed to improve image acquisition speed and precision for wider forensic application.