Association among geometric configurations of palatal rugae

Authors

  • Maria Elias Saadeh Lebanese University American Univeristy of Beirut
  • Joseph Ghafari American University of Beirut Lebanese University University of Pennsylvania
  • Ramzi Haddad American University of Beirut
  • Fouad Ayoub Lebanese University

Keywords:

Palatal rugae, primary, secondary, fragmentary forms, curved, wavy, straight patterns.

Abstract

Background. The associations between the length and morphological shape-related characteristics of palatal rugae have not been fully explored. 

Objectives. We aimed to assess the possible association among various geometric configurations of the palatal rugae in an adult population.

Material and Methods: The maxillary dental casts of 217 non-growing subjects (95 males, 122 females, mean age 25.5±7.6 years) were scanned (laser scanning system Perceptron ScanWorks® V5) and digitized for linear measurements. The casts were also surveyed for visual categorization into curved, wavy, straight and other topographical forms, along with spatial direction of the rugae and the presence of unification. The rugae were categorized as primary, secondary, and fragmentary based on their lengths (>5mm, 2-3mm, <2mm, respectively). Chi square and one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to compare the palatal rugae groupings.

Results: Primary and backward-directed rugae prevailed in the total sample (84.7% and 49.3%, respectively). Wavy form was dominant among primary lengths, while straight form was associated with the shorter secondary and fragmentary groups (p=0.0042). Absence of unification was the norm (88.8%).

Conclusions: Associations of length and shape characteristics among palatal rugae combine wavy patterns with increased length, and straight forms with shorter folds. These features contribute to the definition of ruga individuality in combination rather than separately.

Author Biographies

Maria Elias Saadeh, Lebanese University American Univeristy of Beirut

Maria Saadeh DDS MS MPH

Chief of Clinical Services, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

Clinical Associate, Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

Joseph Ghafari, American University of Beirut Lebanese University University of Pennsylvania

Joseph G. Ghafari, DMD
Professor and Head, Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
Adjunct Professor, Department of Orthodontics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Ramzi Haddad, American University of Beirut

Ramzi V. Haddad, DDS MS

Assistant Professor, Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

Fouad Ayoub, Lebanese University

Fouad Ayoub, PhD

President, Lebanese University

Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Odontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

 

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Published

2017-10-22

How to Cite

Saadeh, M. E., Ghafari, J., Haddad, R., & Ayoub, F. (2017). Association among geometric configurations of palatal rugae. The Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology - JFOS, 35(1), 33: 41. Retrieved from https://ojs.iofos.eu/index.php/Journal/article/view/922

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Section

Identification