Mandibular tori size is related to obstructive sleep apnea and treatment success with an oral appliance. Sleep Breath.
Removal of mandibular tori.
The result is a slowly increasing volume of bone that pushes the tongue posteriorly and narrows the airway. Surgical removal of these tori can be easily accomplished in our office, and creates additional space for the tongue. This can significantly improve snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.
Tori that are near your teeth may make it difficult to brush and floss properly. This can result in a buildup of dental plaque and harmful oral bacteria. Difficulty chewing or swallowing. Large mandibular tori may interfere with chewing, eating or swallowing your food.
Research for your health
NHLBI research found that sleep apnea may raise the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Our current research will help develop new and improved treatments for sleep apnea to help prevent these complications.
Age is the most common risk factor you developing sleep apnea. As we get older, our muscles get weaker and skin begins to sag. The muscles are more likely to collapse in the back of your throat. Gender plays a factor as well.
Tori are simply an abnormality; a random bone growth. They do not pose any immediate threat or harm once they have been identified in the mouth, though they do continue to grow over time, and have the potential to cause pain or discomfort if they become too large.
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 associated with mechanical stress and mandibular shape.
OSA can develop from a physical condition, such as obesity, enlarged tonsils, or micrognathia. With micrognathia, the smaller size of the lower jaw causes the person's tongue to fall backward, blocking the airway and causing symptoms of sleep apnea.
This condition is more common in early adult life, and consequently, it is believed that mandibular tori are the result of local stresses and not solely on genetic influences. The genetic influence can best be seen in studies of twins.
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.
For some people with sleep apnea, the tongue is responsible for obstructing the airway. You may also have several levels of blockage at the same time, such as tongue and soft palate collapse. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is an effective treatment in this case.
When improperly positioned, your jaw reduces the size of your airway. This can lead to bad habits, like mouth breathing. Children with untreated mouth breathing can experience lifelong respiratory problems. It can also affect their facial development, a condition known as long-faced syndrome.
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. That's why a surgical correction should be done prior to oral appliance or CPAP machine therapy.
After tori removal, regrowth of the extra bone is very rare. In most cases, you will only need one surgery to remove the extra bone. There are cases where bone growth will recur, but these are rare, and are usually linked to genetic diseases that will require medical attention.
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.
Tori are more common among males than females. (Although palatal tori are twice as likely to occur in women than men.) They appear to be genetic. Tori can appear in groups of various shapes and sizes, or you can have a just one torus.
Treatment Options
Because mandibular tori are bone growths, you cannot get rid of them without surgical treatment from your dentist.
The prevalence of mandibular tori ranges from 5-40%. They are less common than bony growths occurring on the palate, known as torus palatinus. Mandibular tori are more common in Asian and Inuit populations. They are slightly more common in males.
Although they are extra growths, tori are not cancerous. Signs of oral cancer include sores, thickening oral tissues, unexplained bleeding or numbness, trouble swallowing, and a change in how your dentures fit. If you have any concerns about oral cancer , you should see us today for an oral cancer screening.
There is good news. Upper airway stimulation therapy using a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an option for people who are unable to tolerate their CPAPs. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleeping on Your Side. Side sleeping is better for reducing sleep apnea than back sleeping. Research shows that in many cases, sleeping on your side can significantly reduce breathing disruptions. View Source from both OSA and CSA.
Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years. Fortunately lifestyle changes, treatment, and other interventions can improve the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea.