The reliability of palatal rugoscopy in forensic identification.

To the Editor: There is paucity of information about the reliability of palatal rugoscopy in forensic identification in Saudi Arabia. As you know, forensic dental identification plays an important role in the establishment of a person’s individuality, and forensic odontology deals with the proper handling and examination of dental evidence and the proper evaluation and presentation of dental findings in the interest of justice.1 Palatal rugoscopy is the study of palatal rugae, and their uniqueness to individuals can provide a reliable source of identification. 2 Palatal rugae are irregular, asymmetric ridges of mucous membrane extending lateral from the incisive papilla and the anterior part of the median palatal raphe.3 Palatal rugae are well protected by the lips, cheek, and tongue and are thus protected from external insults such as fire and high-impact trauma. They do not change shape with age and reappear after trauma or surgical procedures.

From the recent studies done in the Indian population, it was postulated that palatal rugae can be used as a personal soft-tissue oral print in forensic identification.4,5 The rugae pattern can be recorded by means of dental impressions and casts made from them. The study of maxillary dental casts is the most widely used technique due to its simplicity, cost, and reliability. The overlay print of palatal rugae in a maxillary cast can be used to perform a comparative analysis. Computerized recording of the palatal rugae pattern is also introduced in forensic identification. 6 Controversy still exists about the stability of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of rugae during growth and the extent of differences between ethnic groups and sexes. Another aspect of palatoscopy that one must consider is the possibility of rugae pattern forgery and the possible distortion of the palatal rugae replica as a result of poor duplicating materials and techniques. Further studies to determine the reliability of palatal rugoscopy in forensic identification are encouraged.