1Undergraduate student Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai.
2Professor and Head, Department of ProsthodonticsSaveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai.
3Lecturer, Department of Forensic OdontologySaveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai.
*Corresponding Author : Dr. Dhanraj Ganapathy, Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics,Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai-600077. Contact : 91 841504523, Email : dhanaraj@saveetha.com
Online Published on 25 April, 2022.
Rugoscopy or palatoscopy is the study of palatal rugae in order to establish a person′s identity. Rugae are protected from trauma as they are insulated from heat by tongue and buccal pad of fat, unlike fingerprints or lip prints that can get destroyed.
The aim of this survey is to identify the awareness and knowledge of rugoscopy among students.
The cross sectional survey was done among 100 dental students in Chennai city after obtaining their informed consent. The survey instrument was a self designed questionnaire with 13 questions eliciting information about demographics of the participants and knowledge and awareness regarding rugoscopy as a forensic aid for personal identification. The questions were sent through a link which was passed around online through survey planet. The responses were collected, tabulated and analysed.
92% of the students were aware of cheiloscopy 31% of the students were aware of thomas and kotze classification. 42% of the students were aware of the obligations of rugoscopy and 23% were aware of the morphology of the rugae. 84% thought that using rugae was reliable in forensic identification.
This study concluded the awareness and knowledge about rugoscopy was adequate among the dental students. However more rigorous continuing education programs can greatly enhance the knowledge about the forensic applications of rugoscopy.
Rugoscopy, Dental students, Awareness, Rugae, Identification
