Comparison of Rugae Pattern between Dentulous Males and Females among Chennai Population

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare the palatal rugae pattern between dentulous males and females of different age groups among the Chennai population.The individuality of a palatal rugae as an aid for personal identification was an objective of this study. BACKGROUND: Palatal rugae are asymmetrical irregular elevations of dense connective tissues located on the anterior third of the palate extending on either side of the mid palatine raphae, behind the incisive papilla.The uniqueness of the palatal rugae suggest their important role in personal identification. METHODOLOGY: The study group was equally divided between the sexes,50 males and 50 females.The primary impressions were made using an irreversible hydrocolloid alginate impression material in a perforated tray .The impression is washed under tap water and the study cast was prepared with dental stone(Type 3gypsum products).From the primary cast, number, shape and length of the Palatal rugae were analysed. RESULT: From this study, males are having higher number of rugae than females. 64.6% of the females are having the rugae size in the range between 5-10 mm whereas only 62.1% are having the rugae within that range. According to shape of the rugae, 46.1% of females are having wavy rugae and 47.5% of ,males are having curvy rugae.Howeverchi-square test observed no statistical differences between males and females with respect to length and shape of the rugae. CONCLUSION: Palatal rugae is unique in each individual which is one of the features that aids as a personal identification in forensic dentistry. INTRODUCTION: Palatal rugae or rugae palatine or plicae palatinae transversae are asymmetrical irregular ridges of dense connective tissues located on the anterior part of the hard palate on either sides of the mid palatine raphae, behind the incisive papilla. The pattern of orientation is formed by the 12th to 14th week of prenatal life . It remains stable and consistent in number and does not undergo any change due to growth, ageing or disease.Palatal rugae area is well protected from traumadue to its position which is surrounded by cheek, lips and buccal pad of fat. Palatal rugoscopy (the study of the shape of palatine rugae) have an important role in the forensic science,prosthodontics,orthodontics and also in genetics andanthropology.In forensic science,because of its unique feature it could be used in circumstances in which it is difficult to identify a dead person according to fingerprints or dental records.Catastrophic accidents involving plane crashes,fires and explosions can destroy the fingerprints,but interestingly palatal rugae patterns are preserved . Palatal rugae are considered as a secondary bearing area in maxilla.In prosthodontics,it can be used as a landmark for artificial canine position in the arrangement of teeth.In orthodontics,studies have reported the importance of palatal rugae as a stable unique reference landmark for longitudinal cast analysis and measuring toothmovement.This study deals with the differences in rugae pattern between dentulous males and females which involves number, shape and length. ISSN: 2455-2631 © March 2017 IJSDR | Volume 2, Issue 3 IJSDR1703049 International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) www.ijsdr.org 299 VARIOUS SHAPES OF RUGAE: MATERIALS AND METHOD: Hundreddentulous out patients from Saveetha dental college and hospitals were included in this study.The study group was equally divided between the sexes,50 males and 50females.The primary impressions were made using an irreversible hydrocolloid alginate impression material in a perforated tray .The impression is washed under tap water and the study cast was prepared with dental stone(Type 3gypsum products).From the primary cast, number, shape and length of the Palatal rugae were analysed. Inclusion criteria: Young healthy subjects with bilateral class 1 occlusion. Exclusion criteria: Previous surgery, craniofacial trauma and any orthodontictreatment. RESULT:In this study, totally 100 subjects were taken for palatal rugoscopy.It involves the study of comparison of rugae number,length and shapes between males and females and the results are shown below, ISSN: 2455-2631 © March 2017 IJSDR | Volume 2, Issue 3 IJSDR1703049 International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) www.ijsdr.org 300 From the TABLE-2:Males are having higher number of rugae 404 with Mean±SD(8.08±1.10) than females 356 with Mean±SD (7.12±1.05). From the TABLE-3,28.6% of females’s rugae are <5mm in length,64.6% are 5-10mm in length and only 6.7% are >10 mm in length.Meanwhile 30.4% of male’s rugae are <5mm in length,62.1% are 5-10mm in length and 7.4% are >10mm in length.From the result,maximum rugae of males are in<5mm,5-10mm and >10mm in length than females whereas females. ISSN: 2455-2631 © March 2017 IJSDR | Volume 2, Issue 3 IJSDR1703049 International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) www.ijsdr.org 301 From the TABLE-4, Females rugae are 38.7% curved,46.1% wavy,9.5% straight and 5.6% diverging.Males rugae are 47.5% curved,34.1% wavy,14.3% straight and 3.9% diverging.From the result, males are having more curved, straight and diverging rugae than females whereas females are having higher number of wavy rugae than males. DISCUSSION:The palatal rugae are considered to be unique for an individual and remains unchanged during an entire lifetime.The analysis of human palatal rugae has been suggested as an alternative method for identification 1889 by Allen34 (1889). English et al.35 (1988). ISSN: 2455-2631 © March 2017 IJSDR | Volume 2, Issue 3 IJSDR1703049 International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) www.ijsdr.org 302 PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE PALATAL RUGAE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE PALATAL RUGAE PATTERN IN FEMALEPATTERN IN MALE PATTERN IN FEMALE Several studies done in the past have revealed and have statistically proved that the rugae patterns are highly individualistic and there are differences between races and gender(9)(10)(11). Most studies use classification proposed by Lysell,Thomas and Kotze(7).This study is conducted based on kapali's classification.Other study determine the differences in the palatal rugae pattern (number, length, shape, direction, and unification) among male, female, and transgender population(7).This study determines the differences in palatally rugae pattern(number, length and shape) between males and females. From the result, it was proven that males are having higher number of rugae than females. Previous studieshave also given the same result.This study shows that both males and females are having their maximum number of rugae in the length of 5-10 mm.Mostly all the other studies shows the same result. This study shows that males are having more curved, straight and diverging rugae than females .Other study found the mean number of wavy rugae to be more among males compared to females(8).In our study, it was proven that females are having higher number of wavy rugae than males which is differing from other studies.Previous study shows the same result as males are having more curved, straight and diverging rugae than females but another study shows that females are having more straight rugae than males . CONCLUSION:Palatal rugae plays an important role in dental forensic practice. Various studies have also shows an importance of palatal rugae in the forensic science, prosthodontics,orthodontics and also in genetics and anthropology . Forensic identification of palatal rugae depends largely on the availability of antemortem records. Antemortem records of palatal rugae patterns can be obtained in dental practice in various forms (dental casts, intraoral photographs and dental prosthesis). So, it is the responsibility of each dentist to maintain dental records of their patients for the purpose of identification. REFERENCES: 1.J Am Dent Assoc. 2008 Nov; 139(11):1471-8.”Palatine rugae and their significance in clinical dentistry: a review of the literature”.Patil MS1, Patil SB, Acharya AB. 2. J forensic Dent sci 2012 ;42-5,”Palatal rugae pattern for establishing individuality.Indira AP ,Gupta M,David Mp. 3.Indian Journal of Forensic Odontology Volume 5 Number 3, July September 2012,”Study of Palatal Rugae Pattern (Rugoscopy) in Chennai Population”.J P Rajguru* Nagaveni. S.Somayaji** N Aravindha Babu*** K M K Masthan**** Parul Khare*****. 4.RFO, v. 14, n. 3, p. 227-233, setembro/dezembro 2009,”Palatal rugae patterns as bioindicators of identification in Forensic Dentistry”,Ismar Eduardo Martins Filho* Sílvia Helena de Carvalho Sales-Peres** Arsenio Sales-Peres** Suzana Papile Maciel Carvalho***. ISSN: 2455-2631 © March 2017 IJSDR | Volume 2, Issue 3 IJSDR1703049 International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (IJSDR) www.ijsdr.org 303 5.Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology, July-September 2011;23(3):173-178 173,”Palatal Rugae Pattern as an Aid for Personal Identification: A Forensic Study”1Kamala R, 2Neha Gupta, 3Amol Bansal, 4Abhishek Sinha. 6.The Scientific World Journal Volume 2014,”AComparative Rugoscopic Study of the Dentate and Edentulous Individuals in the South Indian Population” Jagdish Prasad Rajguru1 ,Satya Ranjan Misra 2, Nagaveni S. Somayaji ,3 K. M. K. Masthan ,4 Aravindha N. 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