Maxillary Landmarks

Importance
Dentist must fully understand the anatomy of
supporting and limiting structures :

• Foundations of the denture bearing areas

• Dentures and their supporting structures are

to coexist for reasonable length of time
GROUPING OF LANDMARKS
LIMITING STRUCTURES

These are the sites that will guide us in having an optimum

extension of the denture so as to engage maximum surface
area without encroaching upon the muscle actions

Encroaching upon these structures will lead to dislodgement

of the denture and/or soreness of the area while failure to
cover the areas upto the limiting structure will imply
decreased retention stability and support.
 The limiting structures of the maxilla are:

1. Labial frenum
2. Labial vestibule
3. Buccal frenum
4. Buccal vestibule
5. Hamular notch
6. Posteror palatal seal area
 `. Labial frenum

• Fold of mucous membrane at

the midline.
• Contains no muscle.
• Performs no action.

ATTACHMENT :

Superiorly: fan shaped

Inferiorly : attaches on
labial side of ridge

Labelled as 1
 CLINICALLY:

•A V shaped notch is recorded

during impression making to
accommodate labial frenum

•The labial notch in the labial

flange of the denture should be
wide & deep enough to allow
the frenum to pass through it
without manipulation of the lip.
2. Labial vestibule
“That portion of the oral cavity
bound on one side by the
teeth,gingiva & alveolar ridge
& on the other side by the lips
& cheek”
- GPT

Vestibule is covered by the

lining mucosa.

SUBMUCOSA is thick &

contains areolar tissue &
elastic fibres
CLINICALLY:

Main muscle of the lip –

ORBICULARIS ORIS
forms the outer surface of the
labial vestibule.

Its tone depends on the support

received from the labial flange &
position of the teeth.

The fibres run horizontally & have

indirect displacing effect on the
denture.
Buccal frenum

It forms the dividing line

between the labial & buccal
vestibules.

It may be a single or double fold

of mucous membrane.
It has the following attachments:

•LEVATOR ANGULI ORIS

attaches beneath & effects the
position of the frenum.

•ORBICULARIS ORIS
Pulls the frenum forward

•BUCCINATOR
Pulls it backward

Hence it requires more clearance

for its action.
Buccal vestibule
• It extends from the buccal frenum
anteriorly to the hamular notch
posteriorly.
•Its size varies with the:
-contraction of the
buccinator -position of
the mandible
-amount of bone loss in the
maxilla.
 CLINICALLY

The distal end of the buccal flange

of the denture should be adjusted not
to have any interference to the
coronoid process during mouth
opening .
Hence the buccal vestibule should
be measured with the mouth nearly
as close as possible.
Hamular notch
A depression between the
maxillary tuberosity & hamulus
of the medial pterygoid plate

It is soft area of loose areolar

tissue.
The distolateral border of the
denture rests in the hamular notch.

The tissues in the region can be

displaced to achieve the posterior
palatal seal.

So if the denture border is placed

anteriorly it will loose its retentive
properties.
Posterior palatal seal area
The soft tissues at or along the
junction of hard & soft palate on
which pressure within
physiological limits of the tissues
can be applied by a denture to aid
in the retention of the denture,
-GPT

It prevents the air entry between

the denture base & soft palate
The posterior palatal seal is divided
into:

• PTERYGOMAXILLARY SEAL
Extends across the hamular
notch & extends 3-4 mm anterolaterally
to end in the mucogingival junction on
posterior part of maxillary ridge

•POST PALATAL SEAL

Extends between the maxillary
tuberosities.
VIBRATING LINES

Vibrating line(area)-An imaginary

line drawn across thepalate that
marks the beginning of the
movement of soft palate when the
patient says ‘ah’ extending from
one hamular notch to the other
hamular notch;lying usually 2mm
in front of fovea palatinae.
The distal end of the denture should
extend at least to the vibrating line.
Functions of the posterior palatal
seal:
•Aids in retention
•Prevents food accumulation
•Compensation for polymerization
shrinkage
•Reduces the tendency for gag
reflex due to downward movement
of the denture during incising
SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

• Load bearing areas

•Show minimal ridge resorption under constant load.

•Denture should be designed such that most of the loadis

concentrated on these areas.

•Two types of stress bearing areas:

primary stress bearing areas
secondary stress bearing areas
SUPPORTING AREAS IN THE MAXILLA
PRIMARY STRESS BEARING AREAS

1. Hard palate

The horizontal portion of the

palate lateral to the midline
is the primary stress bearing
area.

Trabecular pattern in the

bone is perpendicular to the
direction of the force thus
withstanding any amount of
force.
2. Residual ridge

Portion of the alveolar ridge

& its soft tissue covering
which remains following
the removal of teeth.
-GPT

Mainly the posteriolateral

portion of the residual ridge
is the primary stress bearing
area.
SECONDARY STRESS BEARING AREAS
1. Rugae
Mucosal folds located in
the anterior region of the
palatal mucosa.

2. Maxillary tuberosity
Bulbous extension of the
residual ridge in second &
third molar region.

They are secondary stress

bearing because they are
least likely to resorb.
 RELIEF AREAS

These are the areas which either

resorb under constant load or have
fragile structures within or are
covered by thin mucosa which can
be easily traumatized
& hence should be relieved.
They are:
• incisive papilla
•Mid palantine raphe
•Fovea palatina
•Torus palatinus
RELIEF AREAS
1. Incisive papilla
Position
midline structure
situated behind the
central incisors.

Why a relief area ?

Exit point of the
nasopalatine nerves &
vessels. Hence the area
should be relieved to
prevent necrosis of the
distributive areas &
parasthesia of the
anterior palate.
Mid palatine raphe

Position
median suture area
covered by thin
submocosa.

Why a relief area ?

the submucosa in the
mid palatine suture is
very thin. Hence relief
should be provided in the
denture covering the suture.
Fovea palatina

•Formed by the coalescence of

ducts of several mucous
glands.

•Guide to locate posterior

border of the denture.

•Patients with thick ropy saliva

they should be left uncovered
to prevent the displacement of
the denture.
TORUS PALATINUS

Hard bony enlargement in midline

of roof of the mouth in 20% of
people.

Covered by thin mucous

membrane.

Relief should confirm accurately

to the shape of the torus because
the denture is robbed of the
support area.