Análise e classificação das rugosidades palatinas em uma amostra de mulheres brasileiras pelo método de Thomas e Kotze

Abstract

Forensic Dentistry has been gaining a lot of space within the areas of Forensic Medicine, this is due to the fact that the oral cavity has a great potential for investigation, and can also be used to identify individuals. The present work approaches the Palatine Rugoscopy with human identification method. The aim of this study is to evaluate the palatal roughness of a sample of Brazilian women using the rugoscopic technique, as well as the predominance between quantity, shape and arrangement of the palatal folds in the study sample. This is an observational, classificatory and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach to palate wrinkles. Data collection occurred through molding with alginate of the upper arch, casting plaster, contour of palatal roughness with pencil in the model, and finally, analysis and classification by the method of Thomas and Kotze (1983). The results showed that most of the women evaluated presented palates with 12 wrinkles (23.3%), predominantly primary (86.7%), facing forward (40.0%), curved (40.0%) and without unification (70.0%). It is concluded that Brazilian women present from 5 to 16 wrinkles, with a higher prevalence of wrinkles over 5 mm and with no signs of branching between them, and that the Thomas and Kotze method proved to be a viable classification system for analyzing the palate roughness, and further studies should be carried out to assess possible dimorphisms between the sexes.