Palatal Tubercles, Palatal Tori, and Mandibular Tori: Prevalence and Anatomical Features in a U.S. Population

Abstract

The prevalence and features of 3 types of exostoses commonly encountered during periodontal surgery were studied in a sample of 328 modern American skulls drawn from the collection at the American Museum of Natural History. Measurements were made of the height, width, and breadth of exostoses. The relationship to teeth or other skeletal structures was also recorded. Palatal tubercles were observed in 56% of all skulls (69% of all dentate skulls), with higher prevalences among males and African-Americans. Palatal tubercles were commonly associated with second and third molars, and were usually directly lateral to and a mean of 11.4 mm from the greater palatine foramen. Mandibular tori were observed in 27% of all skulls (42% of dentate skulls), with higher prevalences seen among African-Americans and males. The importance of these findings relates to the frequent need for exostosis removal to permit proper flap adaptation, especially in the posterior maxilla, and to the potential use of the mandibular and palatal tori as sources of autogenous cortical bone.

Bony exostoses developed subsequent to free gingival grafts: case series

“…However, it should be noticed that intraoral toris were only observed in 15% of all subjects (Table 1). Sonnier et al 3 observed that palatal alveolar exostoses and mandibular tori can be found more often in young male dentate subjects (suggestive of alveolar bone origin). In contrast, the collective results from published case reports and the findings of the present paper (Table 1) indicate that 90% of the 20 subjects, who presented BBE after FGG, are females.…”

“…Mandibular tori were observed in more than a quarter of modern dry skulls and palatal alveolar exostoses in more than a half. 3 Both BE species may be found more usually in young male dentate subjects, probably from alveolar bone origin. 3 Multiple exostoses are found somewhat less usually than mandibular tori or palatal alveolar exostoses on the maxillary buccal surface below the mucobuccal fold in the molar region.…”

“…3 Both BE species may be found more usually in young male dentate subjects, probably from alveolar bone origin. 3 Multiple exostoses are found somewhat less usually than mandibular tori or palatal alveolar exostoses on the maxillary buccal surface below the mucobuccal fold in the molar region. 4 Other types of BE have been found over the past years associated with unusual postoperative conditions.…”

Surgical management of palatine Torus - case series

“…TP etiology remains unclear 6,7 . Efforts to link its occurrence to third molar agenesia 8 , bone density 9 and elongation of styloid process 10 have been made, but these relationships remain a source of debate.…”

“…Efforts to link its occurrence to third molar agenesia 8 , bone density 9 and elongation of styloid process 10 have been made, but these relationships remain a source of debate. Nowadays, the most widely accepted theory is that TP represents genetic traits 6,7,[11][12][13][14][15] , but it has not always been possible to show the autosomal dominant nature of these structures 15 . Others 16,17 have considered that the development of TP results from an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, especially those related to occlusal stress 2 .…”