Background:Identification of an individual is a challenging task in the field of forensic odontology. Sometimes, the identity of individuals by fingerprints is difficult; hence, the examination of palatal rugae and the human dentition is a viable option.Aims and Objectives:The objective of the present study was to determine the sex of an individual and the hereditary pattern using three parameters are as follows: palatine rugae, dimensions of maxillary molar and maxillary canine.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study involved a total of 200 participants which included 60 males, 60 females and 20 families with four members each. Maxillary impressions were made with elastomeric impression material, and dental stone was used to make the models. The parameters used were as follows: palatine rugae classified by Thomas and Kotze (1983), which included the shape, size, direction and unification pattern, mesiodistal (MD) width of canines and intercanine width and MD and buccolingual width of maxillary molars.Statistical Analysis:Unpaired t-test and the median test were used to assess the sex differences in the number and unification pattern for the palatal rugae and to compare dimensions measured for males and females for the odontometric data. The data collected was statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 17.0 statistical program for windows. The statistical significance was fixed at 0.05.Results:Males showed more number of converging rugae and females showed more number of diverging patterns of rugae. The number of primary and forward rugae was more in both the genders and females showed more wavy rugae while males showed more number of straight and curved rugae. The maxillary canine and maxillary molar dimensions both were more in males than the females and also none of these parameters showed a hereditary pattern.Conclusion:Rugae pattern and the human dentition are both highly individualistic and can be used for personal identification and sex determination.

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a benign epithelial tumor which presents clinically as a proliferating dome-shaped keratin-filled crater. The lesion occurs predominantly upon sun-exposed areas of the body and is known to arise from hair follicle. Actinic rays are a major contributing factor in the etiology. It simulates grossly as well as microscopically a low-grade squamous cell carcinoma. KAs occur habitually on the mucous membrane as well, but their origin in these cases is debatable, owing to the lack of hair follicles in these sites. Our report is an attempt to demonstrate the cells that could be responsible for initiation of this lesion on the oral mucosa.

<p class="abstract">Partial hemifacial hyperplasia is a rare congenital malformation characterized by prominent unilateral overdevelopment of some of the hard and soft tissues of the face. This uncommon diagnosis should be considered while examining facial asymmetry. We report a case of slowly enlarging right facial swelling which turned out to be enlarged zygomtic arch. Complete evaluation led us to believe continued condylar hyperactivity as the underlying reason for worsening deformity. We offer an explanation for the same. Minimal surgical intervention led to significant aesthetic improvement which was patients main concern.</p>

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