Mandibular tori aren't dangerous, but they can be uncomfortable and even painful in some instances. If these bony growths interfere with your oral function or quality of life, talk to your dentist. They can recommend appropriate treatment.
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.
Stress in the jaw bone and bruxism are other factors. 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.
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.
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.
When the extra bone is found in your hard palate, it is called your torus palatinus. If the tori are found on your lower jaw, they are considered to be mandibular tori. Most tori grow to a certain point and stop growing. Most growth stops after our jaws have developed in our late teenage years.
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.
#3: They're Not Cancer
When many people notice tori for the first time, they are worried that they have oral cancer. It is good to be aware of the risk of oral cancer, but the torus mandibularis are not cancerous.
Because mandibular tori are bone growths, you cannot get rid of them without surgical treatment from your dentist.
In most cases, the tori will develop on both sides of the mouth, though there are cases in which the tori will only develop on one side. Tori is not relatively common: currently, it is estimated that anywhere from 5-40% of the population have distinguishable tori present in the mouth.
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.
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.
Believe it or not, clenching and grinding can actually change the shape of your bone. Though not particularly common, some people with bruxism develop bony growths on the inside of their lower jaw, under the tongue. These growths are called mandibular tori, and they are harmless and benign.
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.
There are many reasons behind tori development. Genetics, tooth grinding and bite issues can result in local stress, which can lead to the development of these bony growths. In most cases, tori have a silent, unnoticed growth.
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.
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.
A maxillary torus is a bony growth found on the hard palate. Tori are fairly common, are more likely found in females, and are more likely in the upper jaw than the lower jaw. Genetics play a large part in the development of tori, as well as local stresses such as clenching and grinding.
Tori typically develop during late adolescence and gradually increase in size throughout adulthood. When small, they rarely cause symptoms or pain and are usually an incidental finding during routine clinical or dental examinations.
They appear to be genetic. Tori can appear in groups of various shapes and sizes, or you can have a just one torus. If you have a torus on one side of your mouth, it's most likely that you'll have another one on the other side.
Can mandibular tori shrink? No, mandibular tori don't shrink over time. If you have dental tori that cause pain or hinder speech or chewing function, you'll need oral surgery to remove them.
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.
These bony growths appear to have a genetic link, but environmental situations tend to make them larger. Bruxism (tooth grinding) and ice chewing especially seem to make them worse.
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.
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.