RUGOSCOPY – FORENSIC ODONTOLOGICAL FINGERPRINT

Shivi Forensics

TOPIC: RUGOSCOPY – FORENSIC ODONTOLOGICAL FINGERPRINT 

Written By:
Durgadevi. D
Volunteer, Shivi Forensics

Introduction 
The study of palatal rugae is called Rugoscopy. The ridges behind the incisive papillae on either side of the mid-palatine raphe on the anterior portion of the palate of the upper jaw are called rugae. Which are utilized for personal identification in forensic odontology. Like fingerprints, they are unique and do not change over the course of a person’s life.

Development of Palatal Rugae
The development of palatal rugae, which first emerges in the third month of intrauterine life, is regulated by interactions between epithelial cells. The hard connective tissue forms the pattern between 12 to 14th week of intrauterine life.

Transverse palatine fold are asymmetrical, uneven ridges of mucous membrane that extend laterally from the anterior third of the median palatal rugae and the incisive papillae. Once formed, the pattern does not change throughout life, except in length due to growth of the palate. In cases of fire and high impact trauma, the palatal rugae is well protected by the lips, cheeks, tongue, buccal pad of fat, and teeth.

Major Classification
1. C. Goria created the first classification system in 1911 and divided the rugae pattern into two categories.
• Specific the number of rugae
• Specific the extend of rugal zone relative to the teeth

2. According to Lysell: Palatal rugae were Classified based on length
• Primary rugae: 5mm or longer
• Secondary rugae: 3 to 5mm
• Fragmentary rugae: 2 to 3 mm
• Rugae smaller than 2mm are eliminated

3. Kapali et al classification: Depending on the morphology, palatal rugae could be divided into curved, wavy, straight and circular.

4. Basauri classification: It makes a distinction between the more anterior principal rugae and all of the remaining supplementary rugae. The rugogram is elaborated starting from the palate’s right side. The classification is fairly simple to use.

5. Trobo classification (1932)- The palatal Rugae divided into two groups
• Simple rugae: point, line, curve, angle, sinous, circle
• Compound rugae: Rugae of the polymorhic type are created by joining two or more basic rugae.

6. Carrco (1955) classification: Based on the direction mainly divided into four types.
• Posterior anterior rugae Rugae
• Perpendicular to the raphe
• Ragae oriented anteriorly and posteriorly
• Rugae pointed in multiple directions.

7. Classification of Rugae unification patterns: Divergent and convergent.

8. Based on the rugae’s orientation with respect to the midpalatal raphe: Forward, right angle, backward, and midpalatal raphe

9. Thomas and Kotze classification- it is the most generally used classification. It is classified into 6 types: straight, wavy, curved, circular, converging and diverging.

Method of Analysis 
1. Oral photography- to obtain a detailed and exact analysis
2. Calcorrugoscopy – overlay print of palatal rugae in a maxillary cast carried out to comparative study.
3. Stereoscopy is utilized to obtain a three-dimensional picture of the anatomy of the palatal rugae to analyse the unique shape, length, number and direction of the rugae pattern.
4. It is also possible to apply Stereophotogrammetry, which enables precise measurement of the length and location of each individual palatal rugae.
5. The utilization of digital photography, personal computers and specific software’s to edit and use digital images Permit a notable enhancement in rugae pattern detection, enabling simple handling
6. Computer programs like Adobe Photoshop can improve the outcomes. Palatal rugae analysis can be done with computer applications like RUGFP-ID match.

Forensic application
1) Individual identification: Similar to fingerprints, each person’s palatal rugae patterns are unique and stable, making them useful for individual identification. Once formed, palatal rugae only changed in length as a result of normal growing and remaining in the same location throughout an individual’s life.
2) Complementary tool: This technique is helpful when fingerprint and DNA are unavailable.
3) Mass disaster victim identification: Rugae patterns are useful in burned, decomposing, or fragmented bodies because they are resistant to heat, chemicals, trauma, and decomposition.
4) Ante-mortem vs Post-mortem Comparison: The pattern of Rugae will remain 7 days after death can be used to compare antemorten records if available in orthodontic records for positive identification.
5) Sex determination: Some research studies shows that the rugae pattern can helps to sex determination. The Rugae pattern of twins are not identical.
Images
Figure 1. Anatomical view of palatal rugae

Figure 2. Various shapes of palatal Rugae
Figure 3. Palatal rugae in maxillary cast 

Reference

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