Palatal rugae area: a landmark for analysis of pre- and post-orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients.

We aimed to evaluate the stability of the palatal rugae area before and after orthodontic treatment in adult Egyptian patients, and to suggest whether it could be used in superimposition in order to analyse orthodontic treatment change. Fifty pre- and post-dental casts of orthodontically treated adult Egyptian patients were collected from the clinic of the Orthodontic Department the University of Cairo. All patients were indicated to have symmetrical extraction of first premolars. The casts were scanned and analysed. The most reliable points were found to be the lateral third rugae points, which could be used as reference points for cast superimposition.