Torus Mandibularis

Torus mandibularis is a growth that is bony and nodular usually occurring along the lower jaw. It appears on inner surface of the jaw. When the bony growth occurs on the roof of the mouth or the palate, it is referred to as the patatinus but when it is presents in lower jaw, it is referred to as the torus mandibularis. The growth is usually attached to the jaw bone. It takes various sizes and shapes. While not everyone may develop torus mandibularis growths, they are not often considered as abnormalities.

 

The mandibularis appear mostly in pairs and they do not cause problems, which needs active treatment except in some rare cases where complications and other symptoms occur. The reason for the growth of these structures or bony growths is not clearly understood. At times, the growths have been associated with having a stressful activity such as teeth grinding.

 

A person will get torus mandibularis mostly on the surfaces that face inwards on lower jaw of premolar area. These growths tend to develop in pairs on either side of the mouth, and most of the cases; these growths are benign, though occasionally, they may cause problems that may need treatment. An oral surgeon and a dentist may evaluate a patient to see if there is any form of treatment that may be needed.

 

Causes of torus mandibularis

It is thought that things like bruxism cause mandibular tori. Bruxism and masticatory stress are able to increase occolusal load particularly in people who take coarse diet. This may result in pressure on periodontal ligament eventually causing the new borne formation that occurs on the lingual surface. When people have these growths, they may also be diagnosed to determine if they have bone cancer, abscess formation, vascular tumors, salivary gland tumors, and fibromas.

 

The size of the growths may fluctuate in life and at times, the tori could enlarge to the extent of touching each other in midline of mouth. The mandibular tori may also result from local stresses and genetic influences. Local stress is common in people who have problems with alignment of teeth or jaws, and those who grind their teeth. The growths usually grow slowly over time, and they can appear as early as in early childhood or at times, they may appear later in life.

 

When one has had a period of stress, these growths could also appear. When the growths are removed, they may reoccur, which indicates that it is an ongoing process in the bone development of the mouth rather than a onetime condition. Sometimes the growths only appear as small bumps while at times, they can grow so large to be able to touch one another.

 

Some patients may have problems with fitting their denture if they have these growths, and others could even develop ulcerations on tissue because of the infections and oral pain caused by the growths. The airway management may also be affected by these growths.

Dental problems caused by torus mandibularis

The torus mandibularis may not present problems that require treatment but their growth may interfere with other dental procedures such as dentures. When a patient needs to be fitted with upper and lower dentures or flippers, it may require the tori to be removed. However, these structures of the bony ligament can regrow again when they are removed.

 

These growths or tori may also be removed in order to reduce the impact that is caused by food on the excess bone, and this promotes improved home care. At times, the excess bone growth can contribute to conditions such as plague that cause other dental problems. A patient may have periodontal pockets, and these may necessitate the removal of tori to help enhance oral care, and hygiene since their removal allows for better angulations of toothbrush.

 

Although their removal can lead to recurrence, it is usually rare and in most situations, when they are removed by surgery, they won’t reappear or regrow. Even in the cases where they regrow, they tend to do so very slowly. A torus mandibularis appears like a bump that is inside the lower jaw, and it feels hard in consistency, and it might be covered by a normal gum tissue.

 

When is surgery necessary to remove torus mandibularis?

While surgery may be performed to remove this structure to allow for denture procedure, at times, the dentures may be adjusted so that they fit on the torus meaning the growths may not be removed.

 

Nonetheless, where their size has increased substantially, and their shape interferes with the dentures, there may be no other option than removing them through a surgery procedure. You should discuss with a dentist or oral surgeon to find the best solution to the growth, especially when they are affecting other dental procedures and oral hygiene of a person.