Malocclusion: An adjunctive aid in individual identification.

Introduction: Cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy have long been the most commonly used methods for forensic investigations. Orthodontists perform numerous diagnostic procedures, which include radiographs, photographs and impressions of the teeth and palate for the evaluation of malocclusion. The data recorded by them provide immense information about a patient.

Assessment of palatal rugae pattern and its significance in orthodontics and forensic odontology.

Background: Palatal rugae are nonidentical mucosal elevations seen on anterior third of palate. They are arranged in transverse direction on either side of the mid-palatine raphe. Although they are the most stable anatomical structures in the oral cavity, certain conditions such as expansion in orthodontic treatment contribute to some amount of variations in their pattern qualitatively.