title: Palatal rugoscopy: Establishing identity.
abstract: Palatal rugae are irregular, asymmetric ridges of the mucous membrane extending laterally from the incisive papilla and the anterior part of the palatal raphe. The uniqueness and the overall stability of palatal rugae suggest their use for forensic identification.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the palatal rugae patterns in 2 different populations in India (Madhya Pradesh and Kerala), and furthermore, to assess the predominant pattern if any in the selected groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 maxillary study models (30 from each group) were examined in the age group ranging from 17 to 23 years. Palatal rugae pattern were examined in both the sexes on right and left sides of the palate for the total number (quantitative), length, shape, and predominant direction (qualitative).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After analyzing the rugae patterns in both the groups and between the 2 sides of the palate, the wavy pattern was found to be predominant followed by curved, straight, unification, circular, and nonspecific in decreasing order in the overall population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Straight rugae pattern on the right side of the palate in the male subjects was found to be significantly predominant in the MP population, whereas wavy shape was predominant in Keralites; however, rugae patterns on the right side of the palate in female subjects exhibited no significant difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore (M.P.), India.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paliwal
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wanjari
authors.forename: Rajkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parwani