Palatal rugae patterns as bioindicators of identification in Forensic Dentistry

Abstract

Human identification has been studied since century XIV and it has been increasingly advanced. The objective of this study was to simplify the method of identification by means of palatal rugae together with the incisive papilla, the median face, the shape of the arch and the tooth presence or absence. The sample was comprised of 100 models and their respective negative. Three examiners participated of the research, so the study was blind: examiner one was responsible for the election of the initial models; examiner two scanned the copies (database creation); and examiner three renumbered the models in such a manner that they were verified by examiner two and, subsequently, the coincidence of the points was evaluated for a possible identification. Digital models were examined by means of the Photoshop 7.0.1® program. The results, which were found through the analysis of non coincident points, led to a percentage of 100% certainty on the identification, making the identification of all individuals through the method proposed possible. It has been concluded that it is possible to achieve the human identification by means of palatal rugae provided that it has a previous database. It is a useful identification method of identification, taking into account the risk of five criteria that exclude the possibility of errors, since any model was coincident with another in any point.