This is a post in the category of mystery diagnosis and in this particular blog we will be looking at a large mandibular torus.
The official name for this diagnosis is Torus Mandibularis. It refers to a bony growth generally found on the mandible along the surface near the tongue and premolars above the location of the mylohyoid muscle. In the majority of cases of this disease it is found to be a bilateral lesion.
They are generally found more in males, particularly in people of an Asian or Inuit ethnicity. It is also more common in the earlier years of adulthood and linked to bruxist behaviour.
The good news is that they are generally benign and dont usually need to be removed however if they are very large lesions and obstruct the placement of a denture/prosthetic (should the patient require one, then they may be surgically removed by excision.
There are currently multiple case studies exploring the relationship between mechanical stimulation and the formation of mandibular tori. Although this is still inconclusive it has often been concluded that parafunctional activity could be causing the formation of mandibular tori by causing mechanical stress in the regions where the tori is seen to form. Therefore mandibular geometries that allow for stress concentration in particualr oral locations, such as square-shaped mandibles, will be associated with a greater prevalence of mandibular tori.
Waterlase is a relatively new technology that is used and is non invasive and virtually pain free. It is often used to remove tori when need be, involving a water energised laser that combines air and water. It is very effective for treating the skin, gums and bone with little pain or bleeding.
Dental space 