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ABSTRACT
Palatoscopy, or palatal rugoscopy, is the name given to the study of palatal rugae in order to establish a person's identity. Palatal rugae have been shown to be highly individual and consistent in shape throughout the life. It is well established fact that the palatal rugae pattern is unique to human, as his fingerprints. Rugae patterns have been studied for various purposes, mainly in the fields of anthropology, comparative anatomy, genetics, forensic odontology, prosthodontics and orthodontics.
Keywords: Palatal Rugae, Human Identification, Forensic Odontology, Palatoscopy
INTRODUCTION
Palatal rugae, also called plicae palatinae transversae and rugae palatina refer to the ridges on the anterior part of the palatal mucosa, each side of the median palatal raphe and behind the incisive papilla. As an entity they form the rugae pattern. Anatomically, the rugae consist of around 3 to 7 rigid and oblique ridges that radiate out tangentially from the incisive papilla.1
Palatal rugae have been shown to be highly individual and consistent in shape throughout the life. It is wellestablished fact that the palatal rugae pattern is unique to human, as his fingerprints.2 Palatal rugae are used in human identification not only due to their singularity and unchangeable nature, but also due to other advantages, namely their low utilization costs.3
Once formed, they do not undergo any changes except in length, due to normal growth, remaining in the same position throughout an entire person's life. Not even diseases, chemical aggression or trauma seem to change palatal rugae form.4 It is also seen that changes that occurs from orthodontic movements, extraction, aging and palatal expansion do not modify the rugae enough to hamper identification.4
Classifications of Palatal Rugae:
AIM
The aim of this study is to identify and compare the rugae pattern in males and females of Lucknow city.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Total number of 60 subjects, 30 males and 30 females were selected. All subjects were healthy individuals free of congenital abnormalities, inflammation and trauma. Irreversible hydrocolloid impression material was used along with appropriate perforated impression tray for the maxillary arch.The impression was then poured into dental stone. Care was taken that all casts must be free of air bubbles or voids especially at...