DEGREE OF PROMINENCE OF PALATAL EXOSTOSIS AND SPECIFICITIES OF FABRICATION OF TOTAL PROSTHESIS

Torus palatinus (TP) is a benign, slow-growing bony protrusion of varying shape and size, most commonly situated along the sutura mediana in the frontal or back third of the hard palate. A large discrepancy in the resilience of its musocal envelope and adjacent mucosa (resilient zones by Shroeder), especially in cases with large protrusions, can bring about the problems in the manufacture of total prostheses and especially in wearing them („rocking“, fracture of the prosthesis along the palatal midline, injury to the mucosa in the region of TP, etc.). This paper presents in extenso the plan of the administered prosthetic treatment of a female patient aged 62 years, admitted to the clinic because of total edentulousness of the upper jaw and a very distinct TP. After clinical examination and necessary consultations with an oral surgeon, using the method of selective decompression of TP during the functional imprint acquisition, an upper total prosthesis was manufactured with a small chamber in the region. Possible complications mentioned above were thus avoided, and the patient adapted to the prosthesis completely after one common reocclusion and two control visits. Acta Medica Medianae 2011;50(1):54-59.