Palatal Rugae as an Evidence for Forensic Age Assessment Dagalp Rukiye1,*, Aka Sema P.2, Aydintuğ Yavuz S.3, Iper Doruk4 1Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey 2Professor Department of Prosthodontics and Unit of Forensic Odontology, Faculty of Dentistry (Retired), Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey 3Professor & Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) (Retired), Ankara, Turkey 4Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cankaya University, Ankara, Turkey *Corresponding Author : Dr. Rukiye DAGALP, Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, Contact: +905442942171, E-mail: rukiyedagalp@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 July, 2023. Abstract Introduction Palatal rugae are individual features which are important for personal identification. Present study determines the rugae characteristics and their age-related changes in both sexes. Material and Methods Palatal rugae status (number, length, thickness, shape, direction, unification) of 323 subjects (180 females/143 males) within the age range of 20-79 years were recorded from their dental casts, divided into four sectors on the right and left sides of the palate and statistically analysed. Results The results reveal that there were no statistically significant differences for rugae number distribution due to the sex and right/left sides of the palate (p-value> 0.05 for both analysis). The frequencies of rugae with regard to shape, direction and unification characteristics revealed statistically significant differences (p-value< 0.05). When means were compared within age groups; number, length and thickness of rugae showed statistically significant differences in relation with age (p-value< 0.05). Conclusion Age can be assessed by examining the palatal rugae, as its number decreases, length shortens, thickness gets thinner by ageing (p-value< 0.05). Therefore, rugae can be accepted as complementary evidence for forensic odontologists especially for age assessment of edentulous cases. Top Keywords Personal Identification, Age Determination, Forensic Odontology, Forensic Anthropology, Palatal Rugae. Top |