This document discusses important anatomical landmarks for maxillary and mandibular complete dentures. It identifies 14 maxillary landmarks including the labial frenum, labial vestibule, buccal frenum, buccal vestibule, alveolar ridge, tuberosity, hamular notch, hard palate, fovea palatine, midpalatine suture, incisive papillae, and rugae. It also identifies 9 mandibular landmarks including the labial frenum, labial vestibule, buccal frenum, buccal vestibule, buccal shelf area, retromolar pad, and pear shaped pad. A thorough understanding of these

1. Anatomical landmarks

2. Introduction
 M.M Devan Dictum “Aim of a prosthodontist is
not only the meticulous replacement of what is
missing, but also perpetual preservation of
what is present”
 Complete denture must function in harmony
with the remaining natural tissues so for the
success, a through knowledge of the anatomy
is a must.

3. Maxillary landmarks
1. Labial frenum
2. Labial vestibule
3. Buccal frenum
4. Buccal vestibule
5. Distobuccal sulcus
6. Alveolar ridge
7. Tuberosity
8. Hamular notch
9. Hard palate (flat portions)
10. Fovea palatani
11. Mid palatine suture
12. Incissive papillae
13. Rugae

4. Labial frenum
 Single band of fibrous
connective tissue
 Properly relieved

6. Labial vestibule
 Extends from labial frenum
to buccal frenum.
 Proper lip support should be
provided.

8. Buccal frenum
 Consist of one or more
bands.
 Relieved
 Influenced by 3 muscles
 Orbicularis oris (forward)
 Buccinator (backward)
 Caninus (position)

10. Buccal vestibule
 Buccal frenum to hamular
notch
 Influenced by
 Buccinator
 Modiolus
 Coronid process of mandible

11. Alveolar ridge
 Ridge left after the extraction
of teeth.
 Mucosa is firmly attached to
the periosteum of the bone.
 Consist of dense collagenous fibers.

13. Maxillary tuberosity
 Posterior convexity
 Combination syndrome

15. Hamular notch
 Pterygomaxillary notch
 Distal extension of denture
 Identifying the PPS area.
 Situated between the tuberosity and
hamulus of the medial pterygoid plate.

16. Hard palate
 Flat areas as secondary
retentive areas.
 U shaped palate
 Flat palate (not good support)
 V shaped palate (least favorable)

17. Fovea palatine
 Formed by coalescence of
several mucous gland ducts.
 Landmark for location of
vibrating line.

19. Mid palatine suture
 Junction of palatine process
of maxilla.
 Covered by a thin mucosa
 Slightly elevated or raised
 Proper relief required.

21. Incisive papillae
 Pad of fiberous connective
tissue over incisive foramen
 Proper relief should be given.
 Aid in arrangement of anterior teeth and
jaw relation.

23. Rugae
 Resist the horizontal forces
against the denture.
 Should not be over
compressed.

26. Mandibular land marks
1. Labial frenum
2. Labial vestibule
3. Buccal frenum
4. Buccal vestibule
5. Buccal shelf area
6. Retromolar pad
7. Pear shaped pad
8. Lingual frenum
9. Lingual vestibule

28. Labial frenum
 Single narrow band
 Usually shorter and
wider than maxillary.

30. Labial vestibule
 Between labial and
buccal frenum
 Support to the lower lip.

31. Buccal frenum
 Single or more bands.
 More clearance required

33. Buccal vestibule
 Extend up to external
oblique ridge.
 Denture borders may
overextend in this region

35. Buccal shelf area
 It is the primary stress
bearing area.
 Consist of thick cortical
bone & dense connective
tissue

38. Retromolar pad area
 Forms the distal end of
the denture.
 Consist of loose
connective tissue

39. Pear shaped pad
 Aggregation of mucous
glands and loose,
connective tissue.
 Formed after residual
scar of third molar.
 Muscle attachments
 Posteriorly – temporalis tendons
 Laterally – buccinator
 Medially – pterygomandibular raphe and superior
constrictor of pharynx.

40. Lingual frenum
 Fibrous band of tissue
that overlies genioglossus
 Proper clearance required

41. Lingual vestibule
 Divided into three
 Anterior vestibule
 Middle vestibule
 Distolingual vestibule

42. Anterior
 Also called sublingual crescent area
 Structures present
 Genioglossus muscles
 Lingual frenum
 Anterior portion of sublingual gland

44. Middle
 Also called mylohyoid vestibule
 Is the largest portion of lingual vestibule
 Structures seen
 Mylohyoid muscle
 Sublingual gland

46. Posterior
 Also called lateral throat form or
retromylohyoid fossa
 Boundaries
 Anteriorly – mylohyoid muscle
 Laterally – pear shaped pad
 Posteriorly – retromylohyoid curtain
 Medially - tongue