Palatal Rugae Patterns Among a Sudanese Population Sample

Palatal rugae patterns can have a significant role in forensic identification when it is difficult to use the normal identification methods. This study aimed to identify the morphological patterns of palatal rugae in a sample of Sudanese dental students attending the University of Science and Technology – Omdurman – Sudan. Maxillary impression models obtained from 100 subjects (50 males and 50 females). The data were assessed based on the Thomas and Kotze classification (1983). Results showed that the prevalence of the palatal rugae numbers was significantly more in females than in males. On the right side of the palate, the straight type of rugae was significantly predominant in females than in males whilst the wavy shape was more in males than in females. On the left side of the palate, the curved type of rugae was significantly more presented in males than in females whilst the diverging unification type was more in females than in males. The predominant rugae shapes in both males and females were straight, wavy and least was the circular. This study showed individuality of palatal rugae that can be used in forensic identification, and possibly distinction between males and females.