There can be several factors associated with
Torus mandibularis is thought to be caused mainly by environmental factors, such as bruxism, vitamin deficiencies and calcium-rich supplements, although genetic background also plays a key role.
You can be born with the condition or develop it later in life. Dental tori vary in number and size. You can have one growth or several. You can get torus (singular) or tori (plural) on the roof of your mouth, too.
Tori, or mandibular tori to give it its full name, are small growths of bone that tend to grow on the tongue side of our gums where teeth grinding is present. They are harmless but do indicate that the patient may be grinding their teeth.
Tori can develop in men and women with maxillary tori more common in females2. The average age for a torus to develop is between 30-40 years old3 although upper jaw tori have been discovered as early as the first decade in life4.
In most cases tori are benign and do not require treatment. However, tori will need to be surgically removed to accommodate upper or lower dentures and upper or lower partial dentures (flippers). Tori may also be removed to aid in minimizing food impaction under the excess bone, which will promote improved home care.
Mandibular tori are usually present on the tongue side of the jaw near the bicuspids ( also known as premolars). They usually – 90% of the time – occur on both sides of the mouth (bilaterally). Mandibular tori are not particularly common – about 5 – 10% of the population will have noticeable mandibular tori.
Especially large tori can get in the way of proper eating. Chips, crusty bread, and other crunchy foods present real difficulty. Food particles may become lodged in the tori, causing discomfort or bad breath.
Some areas receive greater pressure than normal. Also, when your bite is off, your body tries to unconsciously realign it properly. The constant stress and tension cause the growth of additional bone material as a way to protect the teeth against the excess pressure.
Similar to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, a large tongue, or an enlarged uvula, large mandibular tori can contribute to breathing obstructions, making one more susceptible to snoring and sleep apnea.
Although the surgery is not necessarily more uncomfortable than a wisdom tooth extraction, the oral surgeon may need to use chisels and mallets to loosen the bone to remove it. Most patients are understandably uncomfortable with the image and feelings of this and prefer sedation.
The size of the tori can increase slowly and continuously through the life of an individual. If the tori has to be removed, surgery can be done to reduce the bone, but it may grow back again in cases where there is local stress, such as excessive forces from an unbalanced bite.
Mandibular tori are very slow-growing, so much so that it can be challenging to identify what causes tori to grow. There is some evidence that bruxism can speed up the growth of tori. Diet may play a role in the growth cycle. Some tori also grow for a period of time, shrink, and then begin to grow again.
Because mandibular tori are bone growths, you cannot get rid of them without surgical treatment from your dentist.
They normally only need to be removed if a lower denture or partial denture needs to be constructed. As mentioned, these tori are benign in nature, so unless they are risk to your oral health, most clinicians will recommend just watching them over time.
Oral tori mostly occurs in individuals with parafunctional habits like teeth clenching or bruxism. People with bruxism may have temporomandibular joint disorders or severe headaches due to the grinding of teeth. Most patients with tori have parafunctional habits and also suffer from migraine according to the research.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a condition in which one or more parts of the jawbones become dead (necrotic) and exposed in the mouth. These fragments of bone poke through the gums and may easily be mistaken for broken teeth. Both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jaw can be affected.
Exostoses are benign protuberances of bone that may arise on the cortical surface of the jaws (eFigure 2-16). A torus (plural: tori) is an exostosis that occurs in one of two locations intraorally.
Tori (or a single torus) are bumps in the mouth made of bone tissue covered by gum tissue. They grow slowly and some people have them without ever noticing them! There are three kinds of tori, each named differently based on their location: Buccal exostoses: tori on the back, upper gums, on the cheek side.
Possible risk factors for torus palatinus include: Mouth anatomy. Tooth crowding, jaw shape and the way your teeth fit together may contribute to the presence of palatal tori. Teeth grinding (bruxism).
Foods such as soups, pasta, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese etc. are best. Be sure to maintain adequate nutrition and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol (even beer and wine) and smoking until after your post-operative appointment.
These bony growths can be caused by a number of factors such as genetics, stress in the jaw bone or bruxism (grinding or clenching). Some symptoms may include inflammation of the gums, irritated tonsils, loose teeth, slurred speech, throat pain or sore jaw.
The prevalence of mandibular tori in the population can range from 5%-40% and is less common than tori on the palate. Tori has been shown to be more common in Asian, Native American, and Inuit populations.
Mandibular tori are more common in Asian and Inuit populations. They are slightly more common in males. In the United States, the prevalence is 7-10% of the population.
Is mandibular tori caused by stress? The causes of mandibular tori are not fully understood, although environmental factors and diet are generally thought to be factors in developing these growths. Jaw stress is also related to tori growth, and emotional stress can be a contributor to jaw stress.