The Assessment of Palatal Rugae Morphology as an Auxiliary Tool for Age and Gender Identification

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the morphology of palatal rugae as a supplementary tool for age and gender determination in a Turkish population. A total of 102 maxillary plaster models (45 males, 57 females; aged 18–84 years) archived at Haci Bektas Veli University Faculty of Dentistry were examined. Palatal rugae were classified as straight, wavy, curved, circular, converging, and diverging. Rugae length was measured with a digital caliper. Data were statistically analyzed using chi-square and Spearman correlation tests. Inter-observer reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient and Cohen’s Kappa statistics. A total of 695 rugae were analyzed (221 male, 474 female). The most common shapes were straight (35.3%) and wavy (23.5%). No significant differences were found in shape distribution according to gender (p=0.897) or side (p=0.317). Mean rugae length was 9.7 ± 3 mm in males and 9.3 ± 2.8 mm in females (p=0.084). A weak positive correlation was observed between age and rugae length (r=0.096; p=0.011). Inter-observer reliability was excellent for both size (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.90) and shape (κ=1.00). Palatal rugae morphology demonstrated stability and high observer agreement, supporting its use in forensic identification. However, rugae shape and size alone were insufficient indicators of age or gender. Palatal rugae should be considered as an auxiliary method alongside other forensic identification techniques.

Keywords

• Age estimation
• forensic odontology
• gender determination
• identification
• palatal rugae

Yaş Cinsiyet Belirlemede Yardımcı Bir Araç Olarak Palatal Rugae Morfolojisinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Bu retrospektif çalışmanın amacı, palatal rugae morfolojisinin Türk popülasyonunda yaş ve cinsiyet tayininde yardımcı bir araç olarak değerlendirilmektir. Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi, Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi arşivinden elde edilen 102 üst çene alçı modeli (45 erkek, 57 kadın; 18–84 yaş) incelendi. Palatal rugaeler düz, dalgalı, kavisli, dairesel, birleşen ve ayrışan olarak gruplandırıldı. Rugae uzunlukları dijital kumpas ile ölçüldü. Veriler ki-kare ve Spearman korelasyon analizleriyle değerlendirildi. Gözlemciler arası güvenilirlik intraclass korelasyon ve Cohen’s Kappa ile test edildi. Toplam 695 rugae değerlendirildi (221 erkek, 474 kadın). En sık görülen tipler düz (%35.3) ve dalgalı (%23.5) rugaelerdi. Şekil dağılımında cinsiyet (p=0.897) ve sağ-sol taraf (p=0.317) açısından anlamlı fark bulunmadı. Ortalama rugae uzunluğu erkeklerde 9.7 ± 3 mm, kadınlarda 9.3 ± 2.8 mm olup istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi (p=0.084). Yaş ile rugae uzunluğu arasında zayıf ancak anlamlı pozitif korelasyon saptandı (r=0.096; p=0.011). Ölçümler için gözlemciler arası güvenilirlik mükemmel düzeydeydi (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.90; κ = 1.00). Palatal rugae morfolojisi yüksek güvenilirlik göstermiştir ve adli kimliklendirmede kullanılabilir. Ancak rugae şekilleri ve boyutları tek başına yaş ve cinsiyet tayininde yeterli değildir. Bu nedenle palatal rugaeler, diğer adli kimliklendirme yöntemlerini destekleyen yardımcı bir yöntem olarak değerlendirilmelidir.

Keywords

• Yaş tayini
• adli diş hekimliği
• cinsiyet tayini
• kimliklendirme
• palatal rugae

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