Differences of Palatal Rugae Patterns between Chinese and Indian Female

Palatal rugae are irregular protrusions that are anatomically located on the anterior maxillary mucous membrane, on each side of the median palatal raphe next to the posterior incisor papilla. The aim of this research was to determine the differences of palatal rugae pattern between Chinese and Indian females. This study was descriptive by using the observation method to a total of 50 female samples consisted of 30 Chinese and 20 Indian using purposive sampling. Impressions of the upper jaws were taken and cast with dental stone. The palatal rugae pattern was identified according to Martin dos Santos classification. The most frequent palatal rugae pattern in Chinese females is curve form (41.00%), followed by line form (23.85%) and sinuous form (15.90%). On the other hand, Indian females mostly have sinuous form (28.83%), followed by line form (23.93%) and curve form (20.25%). Thus, there is a difference between palatal rugae pattern between Chinese and Indian females which is the curve forms is more common in Chinese females while the sinuous forms is more common in Indian females.