Alteration of palatine ruga pattern in subjects with oligodontia: A pilot study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the palatal ruga patterns in subjects with oligodontia and normal tooth numbers.

Methods: An observational investigation was conducted by using maxillary dental study casts to compare ruga numbers, lengths, and shapes in subjects with diagnosed oligodontia or normal tooth numbers.

Results: A total of 32 subjects comprised both the oligodontia (mean age, 14.0 years; SD, 5.0 years) and the control (mean age, 14.5 years; SD, 5.1 years) groups. The mean number of missing teeth in the oligodontia group was 8.7. The mean number of rugae in the whole sample was 7.36 (SD, 1.16), with no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.264). For ruga pattern, no differences were found for right-sided rugae; however, on the left side, a significant difference existed in shape frequency associated with ruga 2. Specifically, a curved shape was seen more frequently in ruga 2 of the oligodontia group (P = 0.01).

Conclusions: The identification of subtle differences in ruga patterns between subjects with oligodontia and normal tooth numbers suggests potentially shared pathways during the development of these oral structures. Further large-scale investigations are warranted.