Year : 2018

Volume : Volume 8

Issue : Issue 2

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Treville Pereira.
trevillepereira@gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: To record the characteristic number, shape, length, direction and position of the palatal rugae. To analyse if palatal rugoscopy can be used for sex determination and determine if the rugae pattern which belonged to families with twins are identical in their characteristics.  Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 120 subjects. This included 40 males, 40 females and 10 families who had either identical or dizygous twins in the age range of 20 to 60 years. Maxillary impressions were made with elastomeric impression material. The number, shape, length and direction of palatal rugae were analysed using Thomas and Kotze classification (1983).  Results: The main distinguishing feature between male and female palatal rugae was the unification pattern wherein males showed more number of converging patterns and females showed more diverging patterns. When the families with identical and dizygous twins were compared, each member showed a distinct rugae pattern.  Conclusion: Rugae pattern are individualistic which can be used for identification and sex determination.

Keywords: Rugoscopy, forensic odontology, sex determination, human identification, twins.