# Analysis of palatal rugae pattern and maxillary sinus index for gender determination

## TL;DR

This study explores how patterns on the roof of the mouth and the size of a facial cavity can help determine gender.

## Contribution

The study introduces maxillary sinus index as a new and reliable method for gender determination.

## Key findings

- Wavy curved and straight rugae patterns are more common in females than males.
- Females have a higher mean maxillary sinus index (1.32) compared to males (1.26).
- Maxillary sinus morphometric analysis is a new and reliable method for gender determination.

## Abstract

Correlation between rugoscopy and lateral cephalometric radiographic technique for gender determination is of interest. A cross
sectional study was conducted on 100 subjects within an age group of 20 to 50 years. Distribution of rugae patterns and morphometric
analysis of maxillary sinus was done for gender correlation. Wavy curved and straight rugae patterns were observed to be more in female
gender as compared to males. The mean MSI was higher in females (1.32) when compared with males (1.26). Both the morphometric analysis
of maxillary sinus and rugoscopy has been proved to be a valuable tool in the assessment of sexual dimorphism. But, morphometric
analysis of maxillary sinus is relatively a new and reliable method for gender determination using maxillary sinus index.