Palatal Rugae Characteristics and Stability after Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Mixed-design Observational Study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Palatal rugae are irregular transverse mucosal ridges located in the anterior 3rd of the hard palate.They develop during the 3rd month of intrauterine life and remain stable throughout life, except when affected by trauma, pathology, or surgical intervention.1,2 Palatal rugae have garnered considerable attention as anatomical landmarks in forensic odontology and orthodontics because of their early development, complex shape, and protected intraoral position.[3][4][5] A main advantage of palatal rugae is resistance to adverse environmental conditions.In contrast to external biometric identifiers, like fingerprints, palatal rugae are protected within the oral cavity and can remain intact in cases of advanced decomposition, burning, or severe trauma of the upper limbs or fingers that are destroyed.3,6 Additionally, rugoscopy is considered a quick, simple, and cost-effective method that requires minimal equipment, making it especially useful in mass disaster scenarios and resource-limited environments.7,8 The uniqueness of palatal rugae patterns has been consistently demonstrated in population-based studies.
Source: World Journal of Dentistry
Language: English
Subfield: Orthodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7130829945