Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Oct 1;43(4):499-503.
doi: 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_195_25. Epub 2025 Nov 14.

Association between palatal rugae patterns and terminal planes in primary dentition: Implications for the early detection of malocclusion

Vishnu Rekha Chamarthi  1 , A K R Santhosh Priya, Sai Sarath Kumar, Dhanraj Kalaivanan, Santham Krishnamoorthy, Sumaiyya Saleem
Affiliations
Free article

Association between palatal rugae patterns and terminal planes in primary dentition: Implications for the early detection of malocclusion

Vishnu Rekha Chamarthi et al. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. .
Free article

Abstract

Introduction: Palatal rugae, or palatal folds, are the unique anatomical features on the hard palate that emerge during fetal development and remain stable throughout the life. These features are valuable for human identification in forensic science, as they are less prone to damage from thermal exposure or physical trauma.

Aim and objectives: This study aimed to determine if there is an association between different palatal rugae patterns and terminal planes in primary dentition.

Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 600 children aged 3-6 years, classified into three terminal planes: mesial step, distal step, and flush terminal plane. Palatal rugae were analyzed using the modified Thomas and Kotze classification system, and data were assessed using the Chi-square tests.

Results: Results showed no significant differences in the number, unification, or orientation of rugae between the terminal planes. However, a significant difference was found in the shape of the rugae, with circular and wavy patterns being more predominant in the mesial and distal step terminal planes, respectively. The most common shape of the incisive papilla was droplet-shaped across all groups.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that while palatal rugae patterns can offer insights into occlusal relationships in primary dentition, they do not show strong association with the terminal planes of primary molar relationships. The study highlights the potential for early diagnosis and preventive interventions in pediatric dentistry based on palatal rugae patterns.

Keywords: Palatal rugae; primary dentition; terminal planes.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ziar N, Pakshir HR, Alamdarloo Y, et al. Characteristic changes of the palatal rugae following orthodontic treatment. Egypt J Forensic Sci 2023;13 doi.org/10.1186/s41935-023-00334-5. - DOI
    1. Bansode SC, Kulkarni MM. Importance of palatal rugae in individual identification. J Forensic Dent Sci 2009;1: 77–81.
    1. Gandikota C, Venkata YP, Challa P, Juvvadi SR, Mathur A. Comparative study of palatal rugae pattern in class II div 1 and class I individuals. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2012;4: S358–63.
    1. Cheeli S, Prasad MG, Radhakrishna AN, Kumar KS, Dangeti D, Pavanireddy S. Comparative reliability of rugoscopy and dactyloscopy for the predilection of malocclusion and dental caries in children: A cohort study. Pes Bras Odontopediatr Clin Integr 2017;17: 1–10.
    1. Saadeh ME, Haddad RV, Ghafari JG. Morphometric analysis of palatal rugae in different malocclusions. J Orofac Orthop 2021;82: 111–20.

LinkOut - more resources