A systematic review of the applications of rugoscopy in forensic sciences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.16925/2018.02.05Keywords:
forensic science, human identification, forensic odontology, palatoscopy, palatine rugae, rugoscopyAbstract
Purpose of the review: This work analyzes the use of rugoscopy or palatoscopy as a method of recognition in forensic sciences, with the objective of determining its usefulness to distinguish sex, age and race. Its usefulness in the identification of bodies following different types of catastrophe and its limitations as a method of identification are also discussed. Period covered, origin and types of publications: A compilation of chronologically important events in the development of forensic oral pathology was carried out; starting with the discovery of forensic oral pathology and culminating in its latest advances. Documents published between the years 2000 and 2018 were sourced from the Scielo, Pubmed and Web of Science databases. Point of view: rugoscopy is a totally reliable technique for recognizing corpses, but not for sexual differentiation, race determination or reference for other anatomical structures. Conclusions: With the birth of forensic oral pathology, a new role in dentistry was discovered; interdisciplinary collaboration in the identification of unknown individuals. One of the forms, the one presented here, studies the geometric variables of the folds located on the hard palate, unique to each individual.
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