Evidence of the Rugoscopy Effectiveness as a Human Identification Method in Patients Submitted to Rapid Palatal Expansion

• NCJ Number: 243709
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 58 Issue: S 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: S 235-S 238
• Author(s): Ana A. Barbieri, Ph.D.; Raquel A. Scoralick, M.Sc.; Suely C.M. Naressi, Ph.D.; Mari E.L. Moraes, Ph.D.; Eduardo Daruge, Jr., Ph.D.; Eduardo Daruge, Ph.D.
• Date Published: January 2013
• Length: 4 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of rugoscopy as a human identification method.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of rugoscopy as a human identification method, even when the patient is submitted to rapid palatal expansion, which in theory would introduce doubt. With this intent, the Rugoscopic Identity was obtained for each subject using the classification formula proposed by Santos based on the intra-oral casts made before and after treatment from patients who were subjected to palatal expansion. The casts were labeled with the patients' initials and randomly arranged for studying. The palatine rugae kept the same patterns in every case studied. The technical error of the intra-evaluator measurement provided a confidence interval of 95 percent, making rugoscopy a reliable identification method for patients who were submitted to rapid palatal expansion, because even in the presence of intra-oral changes owing to the use of palatal expanders, the palatine rugae retained the biological and technical requirements for the human identification process. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.