Application of Palatal Rugae Morphology in Forensic Identification

Abstract

SUMMARY: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.

O conhecimento da anatomia versus a Odontologia Legal: Uma revisão integrativa sobre o processo de identificação humana

“…Além desses supracitados, as pesquisas de Babaji et al (2018), Bing et al (2017a), Xiu-Ping et al (2017, Wu et al (2016), Muhasilovic et al (2016) e Lima et al (2016 também avaliaram os principais aspectos da análise de diferenciação de gênero pela rugoscopia palatina. Ademais, os autores estabeleceram a importância de tal método para a análise forense e a anuência de que não há influência no tratamento ortodôntico na observação de tais rugas (Wu et al, 2016;Xiu-Ping et al, 2017;Muhasilovic et al, 2016) e, além disso, o uso da tecnologia para o reconhecimento de tais diferenças morfológicas é fundamental para a identificação forense (Babaji et al, 2018;Bing et al, 2017b;Lima et al, 2016).…”

Research on Correction Method of Palatal Rugae Morphology in Forensic Digital Identification System

“…The universality, stability and uniqueness of the palatal rugae pattern meet the requirements of forensic identification and can be used as a characteristic indicator for forensic identification (Taneva et al, 2017;Gautam et al, 2017;Gadicherla et al, 2017). Compared with other relatively mature identification techniques (such as DNA), palatal rugae identity is still in the initial stage of study (Li et al, 2014;Wu et al, 2016). Scholars have focused on the description of the palatal rugae pattern and the coding of the rugaes (Bharath et al, 2011;Mittal et al, 2013;Braga & Caldas, 2016).…”

Analysis of Palatal Rugae Morphology Before and After Orthodontic Treatment by a Digital Image Recognition System

“…The pattern of human palatal rugae has a genetic gene-matched individualspecific feature which remains unchanged during an individual's lifetime. Therefore, palatal rugae pattern has gradually become a new marker in the identification of forensic science Ohtani et al, 2008;Adisa et al, 2014;Bhagwath & Chandra, 2014;Wu et al, 2016. After orthodontic treatment, palatal rugae are morphologically diverse, but these changes do not greatly influence individual identification in the field of forensic dentistry.…”