Assessment of Palatal Rugae Changes Following Orthodontic Treatment and Awareness Amongst Dental Students: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Palatal rugae are irregular ridges of mucosa located on the anterior third of the hard palate, extending laterally from the mid-palatal raphe behind the incisive papilla. These structures are unique to every individual, much like fingerprints and remain relatively stable throughout life. The distinct patterns of palatal rugae provide a basis for observation and documentation, making them valuable in forensic science for personal identification.

Objectives: To compare the shape and length of rugae before and after orthodontic treatment and to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding palatal rugae among undergraduate and postgraduate dental students.

Methods: 60 pre-operative and 60 post-operative dental casts were selected from the archives of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial orthopaedics, GDCHJ. The shape of the rugae was marked and length of the rugae was measured using vernier caliper. Total 120 participants including post-graduate and undergraduate students were selected as evaluators. They were instructed to mark and note the shape of the rugae on dental casts and length of the rugae was measured by postgraduate students. The data collected was statistically analysed using appropriate statistical methods.

Results: Overall analysis revealed that orthodontic treatment has a minimal effect on the shape of the rugae, out of 120 participants only 13 participants (10.8%) noted change in the shape while 107 participants (89.2%) noted no change in the shape of rugae. In contrast, changes in the rugae length were commonly observed, with 103 participants (85.8%) noting alterations in rugae length and only 17 participants (14.2%) reported no change in the length of the rugae after orthodontic treatment.

Conclusions: Overall, the finding support the concept that palatal rugae, particularly in terms of shape, are relatively resistant to alteration by orthodontic treatment, reinforcing their potential value in forensic identification.