Comparing the Potential Role of Palatal Rugae Pattern in Paternal Testing- A Cross Sectional Study.

Aim: To determine if there is any similarity in palatal rugae patterns of offsprings and their parents. Objective: To investigate the potential role of palatal rugae in personal identification and paternity testing. Materials and Method: This study consisted of 50 pairs of participants which include the parents and their son or daughter. Occlusal photographs were taken using intraoral mirror. The palatal rugae pattern were traced in the photographs and classified according to Thomas and Kotze classification (1983). The data was subjected to contingency coefficient score determination and spearmans correlation and the similarity was statistically analysed. Results: The average number of palate rugae on the basis of length, shape and the prevalence on both left and right side were found to be similar in both parents and offsprings. The chi square test showed that there was a significant relationship between the palate rugae patterns of offsprings and parent. Further analysis by Pearsons correlation test and spearmans rho correlation coefficient test confirmed the same. Conclusion: The results of the study show that the palatal rugae pattern is a structure inherited and hence can be used as a tool in paternity testing and in personal identification. The palate rugae pattern hence can become one of the easiest, most efficient tool in forensic dentistry in the presence of an antemortem record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]