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During development, bony changes in the palate are reflected in the palatal rugae. Therefore, we hypothesized that the palatal dimensions (PD) influence the shape and number of palatal rugae (PR). The objectives were to record the palatal rugae characteristics (PRC) and palatal dimensions (intercanine distance (ICD), intermolar distance (IMD), palatal height (PH) and palatal area (PA) in Classes I, II and III malocclusion patients and investigate their interrelationship, and statistically examine the possibility of predicting PRC with the PD. Four hundred eighty-one pre-orthodontic study casts of healthy patients with normal palate anatomy were grouped as Classes I, II and III and scanned using 3D cast scanner. The PRC, ICD, IMD, PH, and PA were recorded digitally using 3D enabled software. The data was statistically analyzed. A strong statistically significant difference was observed between PA and number of straight and wavy rugae. ICD and the number of straight rugae were also related. A weak correlation exists between malocclusion classes and PA. The remaining rugae characteristics did not exhibit any relation with palatal dimensions. PA is positively related to the number of straight rugae and negatively related to the number of wavy rugae. Bigger palates have more straight rugae and less number of wavy rugae. A weak correlation between PA and Angle's class I malocclusion exists. We also propose that PA has a developmental association with the number and shape of PR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palatal rugae is an irregular soft tissue, which is located in the front third of the hard palate, and is asymmetrically distributed from the middle suture to the sides. The difference, stability and extensive characteristics of palatal rugae morphology have gradually make it a characteristic indicator of forensic identification. However, a mature digital palatal rugae identification system has not yet been established at present. Feature extraction is the premise of palatal rugae image recognition. In order to obtain palatal rugae feature information in all directions and improve the reliability of forensic identification, it is necessary to collect palatal rugae images from a plurality of different angles. When the collected images are sent to the recognition system, the diversity of angles will often cause problems such as error recognition. If the tilted images are not rotated properly, it will make the forensic identification face many difficulties. To solve the problem of image skew caused by the diversity of acquisition angle, an algorithm based on orientation vector to correct the tilted palatal rugae images was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the criteria for standard palatal rugae image and the selection rules for feature points were set; Secondly, characterizing feature points according to the rules, and fitting two lines and find their direction vector; Finally, to obtain the corrected images, the tilted images were rotated by the angle determined by the two direction vectors. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can correct the tilted palatal rugae images collected from different angles and has strong robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the study were to, 1. Compare the accuracy of four methods of acquisition of palatal rugae (PR) characteristics (PRC). 2. Study the predominant PRC in Angles Class 1, 2, and 3 malocclusions. 3. To statistically correlate the predominant PRC with Class 1, 2 & 3 malocclusions and thus explore the possibility of utilizing it in predicting malocclusions. Study casts and intraoral 3D scan images (3Shape® Intra-Oral Scanner) of the palate of 104 healthy orthodontic patients were included as Group I and Group II respectively. The casts of Group I were scanned using 3Shape® (Group III) and Sirona inEos X5® (Group IV) cast scanners. PRC for all groups were recorded and PRC of Group I was compared with PRC of Groups II, III and IV for possible matching. 3D images of Group IV were further divided according to Angles classification and predominant PRC analyzed. 97.8 % of PRC match was observed in Group I and Group IV. Wavy and complex rugae were predominant in Class 1 and 3 malocclusions and showed statistically significant difference between Class 1, 2 and 3 malocclusions (p=0.00 and 0.014 respectively) with wavy being higher in Class 1 and complex being higher in Class 3 (LSD Post Hoc analysis). Direct intraoral 3D scanning and 3D scanning of the palatal area of casts are equally reliable methods for PR acquisition for examining PRC. All PRC considered together have a minimal impact on prediction of malocclusions, however, influence of wavy characteristic was maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model analysis was performed to identify palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns, evaluate their individual- specific properties and stability before and after orthodontic treatments, and investigate their reliability in the use for individual identification from the perspective of forensic dentistry. Maxillary models of 70 patients were collected before and after orthodontic treatments, palatine images were taken under standard conditions. Pattern-based individual identification was performed through measuring some indices including changes in number, orientation, shape, and length of palatal rugae, as well as mesial and distal endpoint displacement of palatal rugae in the anteroposterior (AP) and mesiodistal (MD) direction. At the same time, maxillary models of 10 patients were randomly selected for individuality confirmation and the average rate of correct matches was calculated. palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns were highly individual-specific. Palatine of the same pattern were not found before or after orthodontic treatment. Model-based analysis confirmed the high individual-specificity properties of the palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns, and also showed that the incidence of any morphological change in the patterns after orthodontic treatment was 45.7 % for anteroposterior displacement of the distal endpoint of palatal rugae, 40 % for mesiodistal displacement of the distal endpoint of palatine, 32.9 % for anteroposterior displacement of the mesial endpoint of palatal rugae, and 17.1 % for mesiodistal displacement of the mesial endpoint of palatal rugae. The incidence of change in length, orientation and shape of palatine after orthodontic treatment was 28.6 %, 1.4 % and 1.4 % respectively; and the incidence of palatal segmentation and unification after orthodontic treatment was 4.3 % and 2.9 % respectively. The mean percentage of correct matches of the palatine patterns after orthodontic treatment to their duplicates was 99.05 % and the mean percentage of correct matches of the palatine patterns between before and after orthodontic treatment was 92.19 %. Palatal rugae anatomical morphology patterns are unique to each individual. After orthodontic treatment, palatal rugae have diverse presentation patterns. Although the diverse palatine patterns to a certain degree, influence individual identification in the field of forensic identification, palatal rugae patterns can be used as a novel method for individual identification in forensic dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the accuracy rate of a digital image recognition system in matching the palatal rugae Morphology after orthodontic treatment, before orthodontic treatment and to provide theoretical evidence for individual identification in the field of forensic dentistry. High-resolution digital images of the palatal rugae were taken under particular conditions from each patient before and after orthodontic treatment. Features of each digital image were extracted using a digital image recognition system and included in the palatal rugae database. Using an MATLAB software system, information matching of the palatal rugae was performed. From the matching results, the accuracy rate of individual identification of orthodontic patients was 100%, with a Euclidean distance of 0. The accuracy rate in matching palatal rugae patterns before and after orthodontic treatment was 95.67%. The results were statistically significant with P < 0.05. Palatal rugae pattern is highly individual-specific. After orthodontic treatment, palatal rugae are morphologically diverse, but these changes do not greatly influence the individual identification in the field of forensic dentistry, which provides a new method of and pathway to forensic identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the feasibility of application of digital images of the palatal rugae in forensic identification. One hundred patients, consisting of 50 males and 50 females, who received treatment between January 2015 and June 2015 at Shanxi Medical University Stomatological Hospital, China, were included in this study. High-resolution digital image of the palatal rugae was taken from each patient using a digital SLR camera and then processed using a digital image recognition system, including noise reduction, contrast enhancement, image segmentation, feature extraction, edge detection and information matching. Using an MATLAB software system, match results and the time taken by each operator for information matching were recorded. The digital image recognition system assisted in information matching of the palatal rugae. Three oral physicians had a 100% correction rate in information matching. Two other operators failed in formation matching in one or two cases. The time taken by oral physicians for information matching was shorter than that taken by the other two operators. Unique palatal rugae morphology has gradually become a novel marker for forensic identification. Digital images of the palatal rugae morphology contribute to rapider and more accurate forensic identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the role of palatal rugae pattern in forensic identification by coding of palatal rugae characteristics, and to construct a forensic identification system for oral palatal rugae. One hundred models were included in this study for a systemic coding of palatal rugae pattern based on the shape, quantity, location, and distribution of palatal rugae. Among the involved 100 models, palatal rugae types varied among individuals and palatal rugae pattern was different between men and women, even between two sides in the same individual. Palatal rugae pattern can be used for forensic identification of oral soft tissue and this study proposes a new means for the identification by coding of palatal rugae pattern based on the shape, quantity, location and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establish a person's identity can be a very complex process, one of the main objectives of the forensic sciences. The analysis of the teeth, fingerprints and DNA comparison, are probably the most used technics, allowing fast and secure identification processes. However, these techniques can not always be applied, in some cases, it is necessary to apply different and less known techniques. In this work, a systematic analysis of the shape and dimensions of the palatal rugae was performed. We analyzed 120 subjects of both sexes, between 15 to 20 years olds, fully dentated, and by calcorrugoscopy were determined the shape, size, number and position of the palatal rugae. The most prevalent palatal rugae shape was sinuous (43%) followed by curve (27%), line (15%), point (11%), and polymorphic varieties (4%). The average number was 12.27, being higher in male than female. The palatal rugae that were larger were the sinuous (mean 9.58 mm). 40% of the rugae were found in the E quadrant, followed by D (30%), the rest was distributed among the other regions. The analysis of the palatal rugae and their features can be used as a reliable guide to the forensic identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]