Palatal rugae and applicability in human identification in forensic dentistry: literature review

Abstract

The palatine ridges are formed in the 3rd month of intrauterine life and remain in the same position throughout life, possessing resistance to destructive action, once covered by dental and skeletal structures. With a large anatomical variability, the palatine ridges are asymmetric in human species, making these distinctive in comparison to other mammals. Their ridges also present unique, unchanging, perennial and classifiable traits, which are fundamental requirements for human identification, being an alternative method when the classically established ones are not viable. This Forensic Anthropology resource got several techniques and systems of classification; its application is

viable in both fresh corpses and living individuals. Therefore, this study presents the importance and the existing assorted classification systems through a literature review. It was concluded that using the identification technique through the roughness palate is feasible, but in spite of being simple and not requiring any complex instrumentation, it is not commonly known among professionals.