PALATAL RUGOSCOPIC ESTIMATION OF SEX AMONG IGBO STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT
Ibeachu P. C. and Aigbogun (Jr) E. O.*
ABSTRACT
Background: Estimating the sex and identity of an individual in post-mortem circumstances can be a very difficult process. However, due to the stability of palatal rugae under extreme conditions, its configuration can provide useful information about the sex of the individual. Objectives: This study was carried out to ascertain the applicability of patalarugoscopy in sex differentiation and identification. Materials and Methods: A total of 190 subjects, 90 males and 110 females were selected from among the Igbo students of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Maxillary dental cast were formed by the use of alginate impressions and the palatal rugae were traced under sufficient light using a high precision graphite HB pencil and then analysed for their various patterns using Thomas and Kotze’s method. Statistical analysis were carried out using SPSS Version 23 (IBM® Armonk, New York) at 95% significance level. Results: Statistical analysis using the Z-test for proportionality differences showed no significant difference in the distribution of the rugae patterns of males and females (P>0.05). The Chi-square analysis of association showed a significant relationship between sex and the distribution of predominant rugae (P=0.003) while there was no significant association between sex and the distribution of unification rugae (P>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, that the sole use palatal rugae shape and configuration may not be a very reliable technique for estimating sex. Therefore a more reliable approach such as palatarugometry and/or odontometry will be appropriate if the sex of an individual was to be established using palatal rugae.
Keywords: Sex estimation, Palatal rugoscopy, Maxillary Dental cast, Igbo students, Nigeria.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
Impact Factor : 8.181 
