s.

Some studies have provided evidence that the structure of palatal rugae remained unchanged even in postmortem period, and that an individual could be reliably identified based on the structure of palatal rugae.^\[[@R27]\]^ The number and shape of palatal rugae on the right and left sides of the palate differ between males and females in different populations checked in various studies.^\[[@R16],[@R28]\]^ However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that compared morphological structure of palatal rugae in different sagittal skeletal malocclusion groups. In this study, which is the first study in the literature to evaluate the shape and number of palatal rugae in different sagittal skeletal malocclusion groups, no significant difference was detected among the groups.

Distribution of the shape of palatal rugae in a population shows racial differences.^\[[@R4],[@R14],[@R15],[@R29],[@R30]\]^ In the present study, wavy type of rugae was the most common pattern in different sagittal skeletal malocclusion groups of Turkish background. The studies by Azab et al^\[[@R29]\]^ and Kapali et al^\[[@R4]\]^ also reported wavy type of rugae as the most commonly observed rugae pattern. Consistent with these studies, the wavy type of rugae was the most common rugae pattern in the present study.

5. Conclusion
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Further studies on a larger number of subjects are required in order to confirm the relationship between the pattern of palatal rugae and sagittal skeletal malocclusion. This may allow identification of potential suspects through skeletal malocclusions and palatal rugae and lead the path in forensic dentistry. Moreover, the use of antemortem or postmortem palatal rugae records may facilitate identification of the suspects in forensic investigations by enabling facial reconstruction through skeletal malocclusions.

The authors thank to Research Assistant E. Genc for support and technical assistance.

Abbreviations: PPR = primary palatal rugae, SPR = secondary palatal rugae.

The authors ha