Background: This observational study investigates variations in palatal rugae patterns among individuals from Western Maharashtra to assess their potential as a forensic tool for sex determination and identification. Palatal rugae offer unique, stable patterns resistant to environmental factors, making them valuable in forensic odontology when conventional methods fail. Palatal rugae, ridges on the anterior hard palate, exhibit individuality and durability, aiding applications in forensics, anthropology, and dentistry. Prior research shows inconsistent sex dimorphism in rugae traits across populations, highlighting the need for region-specific data from Western Maharashtra.

Objectives: The study compares rugae number, shapes, unification patterns, and palatal vault characteristics between males and females aged 18-30 years. It evaluates these features’ utility for biological sex differentiation in forensic contexts.

Methods: Dental casts from 60 participants (30 males, 30 females) were analyzed using Thomas and Kotze classification for shapes (straight, curved, wavy, circular) and unification (converging, diverging). Rugae counts, lengths, and vault types were measured; statistical tests included Student’s t-test and chi-square (p<0.05 significant).

Results: Males had significantly higher mean total rugae (9.30 ± 0.65) than females (8.30 ± 1.12; p=0.001). No significant sex differences appeared in shapes (wavy predominant at 63.3%), unification, or vault types (medium most common at 53.3%; p>0.05).