Palatal Rugae Patterns as a Reliable Tool for Human Identification in Forensic Odontology

Palatal rugae are anatomical ridges located on the anterior region of the hard palate and are considered unique, stable, and resistant to post-mortem changes. These characteristics make them a valuable adjunctive tool in forensic human identification. This paper evaluates the reliability of palatal rugae patterns for forensic identification through conventional rugoscopy and digital image-based analysis. A structured methodology involving cast analysis, digital acquisition, classification, and statistical validation is proposed. The study highlights the potential of palatal rugae as a cost-effective, reliable, and supportive biometric marker, particularly in cases where fingerprints and DNA are unavailable (Jain & Chowdhary, 2014; Deheriya & Saxena, 2025).