Abstract

Introduction: Palatal rugae are unique anatomical ridges located on the anterior hard palate, remaining stable throughout an individual’s life. In forensic odontology and orthodontics, they serve as key landmarks. The stability of palatal rugae, coupled with their resistance to change, suggests potential diagnostic value, especially in sagittal malocclusion classified as Class I, II, or III by Angle’s system. This study investigates the association between palatal rugae patterns and sagittal malocclusion, exploring whether their morphological characteristics can aid in malocclusion diagnosis. Objectives: To examine whether palatal rugae patterns (length and width) are significantly associated with sagittal malocclusions (Class I, II, and III) and to assess their potential role as non-invasive diagnostic tools for orthodontic assessment. Methodology: This cross-sectional clinical study involved 300 participants, aged 18 to 28, divided equally into three groups based on untreated sagittal malocclusion: Class I, Class II, and Class III, according to Angle’s classification. Strict inclusion  criteria ensured participants had no history of orthodontic treatment, systemic diseases, facial trauma, or habits affecting palatal anatomy. Pre-treatment maxillary dental models were made using high-quality alginate impressions and dental stone casts, focusing on primary palatal rugae for analysis. Key parameters measured were the mesio-distal (MD) length and anterio-posterior (AP) width of the rugae, with data collected using digital calipers. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS Ver 26.0, employing ANOVA to compare rugae dimensions between malocclusion groups, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient to assess the relationship between rugae patterns and malocclusion. A significance level of p<0.05 was set. Results: The paired sample t-test results revealed no statistically significant difference in palatal rugae dimensions before and after orthodontic treatment across the regions studied (right and left medial and lateral rugae). For mesiodistal (MD) measurements, the mean difference for right-side rugae ranged from -0.0487 to 0.07806, while left-side rugae differences ranged from -0.0842 to 0.0837, with p-values consistently greater than 0.05. Similarly, for anterio-posterior (AP) measurements, the mean difference ranged from -0.0601 to 0.2622 across both sides, with no significant p-values observed. These findings confirm that palatal rugae patterns remained stable post-treatment, indicating no measurable changes in their dimensions.  Conclusion: Palatal rugae patterns are not significantly associated with sagittal malocclusion, and their dimensions remain stable following orthodontic interventions. They can serve as reliable anatomical landmarks in orthodontics and forensic identification, offering potential for non-invasive diagnostics in clinical settings.

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