Palatal rugoscopy: Individuality and gender differences in subset of population of Karachi.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the individuality of palatal rugae patten and correlate them in males and females in different age groups by using Trobo’s classification. Study Design: Cross Sectional. Setting: Department of Prosthodontics, Dow Dental College, Dow University of Health Sciences. Period: September 2019 to January 2020. Material & Methods: This study comprised of ninety-four participants with equal number of males and females from 10 years to 70 years, visiting the Prosthodontic department. Study casts included were free of dental abnormality, trauma, malocclusion, orthodontic problems, and deformity in palatal rugae area. Sample size was calculated from software name openepi.com with 95% confidence interval. Data was tabulated and SPSS version 22.0 was used to identify the results. Results: Frequency distribution was performed among age groups in which second group (20 to 39 years) has highest frequency with 52 in number. The cross tab between age group and type of rugae was made which showed group II, having age between 20 to 39 years, had the highest number of palatal rugae configurations amongst all. Conclusion: Sinuous or type E was the predominant type of palatal rugae found in this study. The study did not show significant difference in gender, however number of rugae were found consistently more in young adults with propensity towards individuality. Their use can thus be justified for dental identification in forensic odontology.