Classification of palatal rugae as a method of personal identification in children.

Abstract

Introduction: Biometric characteristics are biological traits of a subject that can be classified for the purpose of personal identification. Rugoscopy studies, classifies and records palatal rugae with the purpose of being used in complex cases of identification, however, in children there is no protocol indicated for its application. Objectives: The objective of this research is to classify palatal rugae as a method of personal identification in children. Material and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional and observational study, in a convenience sample of 100 study models of pediatric subjects (50 boys and 50 girls) from 4 to 10 years old, totally or partially dentate. The shape of the dental arch, the shape of the incisive papilla, the type and shape of the palatal rugae, and the rugoscopic formula were recorded. The information was expressed in percentages and analyzed by means of Chi square (≤ 0.05). Results: The most common dental arch shape was arcuate (50%) and the incisive papilla was pear (43%).  The most frequent type of palatal rugae was simple (91%), the most prevalent form was sinuous (26.8%).  The 100 rugoscopic formulas were unique to each subject and different from each other. There was no significant difference in the shape of the dental arch and incisive papilla, the type and shape of the palatal rugae between sexes. Conclusions: The shape of the dental arch and incisive papilla complement the individualization data and the classification of the palatal rugae could be useful as a method of personal identification in children.