14 Jun What Are Mandibular Tori?
Have you ever felt around in your mouth with your tongue and discovered one or more bumps on the inner side of your lower jaw? If so, you may be surprised to learn that this is not actually a normal feature of the mouth. The condition is known as mandibular tori, which is a benign growth of bone that normally involves a bump on both sides of the oral cavity.
Mandibular Tori
In most cases, having this oral abnormality does not result in serious damage, although it may cause some discomfort if the growth reaches a certain size. It can also cause abnormal malfunctions.
If you have tori, their size may fluctuate throughout your life. Some people even have tori that are so large that they are touching each other in the middle of the mouth.
The fabrication of dentures can be complicated by the presence of mandibular tori. If they must be removed, surgery can be performed to reduce the bone mass; however, they may return if neighboring teeth are still receiving local stress.
Mandibular tori typically grow very slowly, varying in size. They do not normally cause problems with speech or eating. Most people with tori probably don’t even know it, or assume that the condition is a normal part of the mouth anatomy.
Causes of Mandibular Tori
A number of factors are typically linked to this condition. Beginning with genetics, it is more commonly found among men than women and may be passed down from father to son. Another common cause is bruxism, or teeth grinding that may cause stress in the jawbone.
Mandibular tori are more frequently found during early adulthood. As a result, it is believed that they are caused by local stresses, rather than only genetic influences.
Symptoms of Mandibular Tori
- Gum inflammation
- Irritated or inflamed tonsils
- Slurred speech
- Loose teeth
- Throat pain
- Sore jaw
Treatment
In most cases, treatment for mandibular tori is unnecessary, although you may want to have the condition looked at by your dentist.
You may want to consider surgical treatment if the condition is leading to problems with your speech. If the presence of mandibular tori would interfere with the placement of dentures, you may also want to consider a surgical procedure.
After removal, it is still possible for mandibular tori to grow back. Research suggests that the regrowth of tori may happen more frequently with older patients. The important takeaway is that mandibular tori do not need to be removed unless they are causing you problems.