This document discusses anatomical landmarks that are important for complete dentures. It describes limiting structures, supporting structures, and relief areas for both the maxilla and mandible. Limiting structures guide the borders of the denture and include things like the labial and buccal frenums. Supporting structures bear stress from function, like the hard palate and residual ridges. Relief areas need space in the denture, like the incisive papilla and midpalatine raphe, to prevent soreness. Understanding these landmarks helps ensure a well-fitting denture that does not cause pain or dislodgement.

1. PRESENTED BY :
DR.NISCHAL NIRAULA
KUSMS
ANATOMICAL LANDMARKS

2. Maxillary and Mandibular landmarks
1.Limiting structures 2. Supporting Structures
Primary stress Secondary stress 3. Relief
bearing areas bearing areas areas

4.  Limiting structures are sites that will guide us in having an
optimum extension of denture so as to engage maximum surface
area without encroaching upon the muscle action. They are:
 Labial frenum
 Labial vestibule
 Buccal frenum
 Buccal vestibule
 Hamular notch
 Posterior palatal seal
 Fovea palatinae
Limiting structures

5. Labial frenum
a) Single or double fibrous band covered by mucous membrane which
extends from labial aspect of residual alveolar ridge to the lip.
b) Absence of muscle fibers.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) Limits labial flange of denture.
b) Relief if not given causes pain and also dislodgement of denture.

6. Labial vestibule
 Boundaries:
a) Extent---from buccal frenum on one side to the other,being divided
into right and left by labial frenum.
b) Anteriorly:orbicularis oris muscle
c) Posteriorly:labial aspect of alveolar ridge.
FEATURES
a) Thin mucosa and thick submucosa with large amount of loose areolar
tissue and elastic fibers.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The labial flange of the denture will be in complete contact with labial
vestibule to provide a peripheral seal in the denture.

7. Buccal frenum
 Band of fibrous tissue overlying the levator anguli oris,that divides
labial vestibule from buccal vestibule.
 The orbicularis oris pulls frenum forward and the buccinator pulls it
backward
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Since it has muscular attachments adequate relief must be provided to
prevent the dislodgment of denture.(that is,it can move posteriorly as a
result of the buccinator muscle and anteriorly as a result of the
orbicularis oris.)

8. Buccal vestibule
 Buccal vestibule extends from the buccal frenum to the hamular notch.
 Bounded externally by cheeks and internally by residual alveolar ridge.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 The patient’s mouth must be half open during impression
taking,because opening of mouth during final impression results the
coronoid process to come front narrowing buccal vestibule.

9. Hamular notch
 Hamular notch forms the distal limit of the buccal vestibule ,located
between the tuberosity and the hamulus of the medial pterygoid plate.
 Pterygomandibular raphe is attached to the hamular notch.
 It has thick submucosa made up of loose areolar tissue.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 If denture border is short of the hamular notch The denture will not
have a posterior seal resulting in loss of retention of the denture.
 If denture extend beyond hamular notch The pterygomandibular raphe
is pulled forward when patient opens mouth causing dislodgement of
denture.

10. Posterior palatal seal area
 Also known as post dam.
 “The soft tissues at or along the junction of the hard and soft palate on
which pressure along the physiological limits of the tissues can be
applied by the the denture to aid in the retention of the denture.”-GPT

11. …..
Functions:
a) Aids in retention by maintaining contact with the soft palate during
functional movements like speech,mastication and deglutition.
b) Reduces the tendency for gag reflex as it prevents the formation of the
gap between the denture base and the soft palate during during
functional movements.
c) Prevents food accumulation between the posterior border of the
denture and the soft palate.

12. …continued
 The posterior palatal seal can be divided into:
a) Pterygomaxilary seal
b) Postpalatal seal

13. Pterygomaxillary seal Posterior palatal seal
 It is the part of the posterior
palatal seal that extends
across the hamular notch
and extends 3 to 4 mm
anterolaterally to end in the
mucogingival junction on
the posterior part of the
maxillary ridge.
 It is the part of the posterior
palatal seal area that extends
between the two maxillary
tuberosities.
Vs

15. Fig:posterior
palatal seal

16. Vibrating line
 “The imaginary line across the posterior part of the palate marking the
division between the movable and immovable tissues of the soft palate
which can be identified when the movable tissue is moving’’-GPT
 Denture should extend 1-2mm posterior to this vibrating lines.
 Types:
1. Anterior vibrating line
2. Posterior vibrating line

17. Anterior vibrating line
 It is an imaginary line lying at the junction between the immovable
tissue over the hard palate and the slightly movable tissues of the soft
palate.
 It is cupid bow shaped(because of the shape of the underlying bone).see
fig:s17
 Valvasa maneuver:The patient is asked to close his nostrils firmly and
gently blow through his nose,to locate the anterior vibrating line.

18. Fig:S17-arrow showing the bone
that gives bow shape to anterior
vibrating line in edentulous
patients.

19. Posterior vibrating line
 It is an imaginary line located at the junction of the soft palate that
shows limited movement and the soft palate that shows marked
movement.
 This line is usually straight.

20. Fovea palatinae
 It is formed by coalescence of the duct of several mucous glands.
 The position of the fovea palatinae also influences the posterior border of
the denture.
 The denture can extend 1-2 mm beyond the fovea palatinae.
 The secretion of the fovea spreads as a thin film on the denture therefore
aiding in retention.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 In patients with thick ropy saliva,the fovea palatina should be left
uncovered or else the thick saliva flowing between the tissue and the
denture can increase the hydrostatic pressure and displace the denture.

21. Supporting structures
A)Primary stress bearing areas
1. Hard palate
2. The postero-lateral slopes of the residual alveolar ridge.
B)Secondary stress bearing areas
1. Rugae
2. Maxillary tuberosity

22. Hard palate
 It is formed by palatine shelves of the maxillary bone and the
premaxilla.
 Lined by keratinised epithelium.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) The trabecular pattern in the bone is perpendicular to the direction of
force,making it capable of withstanding any amount of force without
marked resorption.

23. Posterolateral slopes of residual ridge
 “The portion of the alveolar ridge and its soft tissue covering which
remains following removal of the teeth.”-GPT
 Lined by thick stratified squamous epithelium.
 Even though the submucosa is thin it sufficiently provide adequate
resiliency to support the denture.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) The vertical forces during physiological activities like mastication falls
on denture and is transmitted posteriorly.The posterolateral slopes of
the ridge bears the force and hence is the primary supporting
structure.

24. Rugae
 These are the mucosal folds located in the anterior region of the palatal
mucosa.
 In the area of rugae,the palate is set at an angle to the residual alveolar
ridge and is thinly covered by soft tissue which contributes to the
secondary stress bearing area.

25. Maxillary tuberosity
 It is the bulbous extension of the residual alveolar ridge in the 2nd and
3rd molar region,terminating in the hamular notch.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) The area is less likely to resorb.
b) Artficial teeth are not set on tuberosity region

26. Relief Area
1. Incisive papillae
2. Midpalatine raphe

27. Incisive papillae
 It is the midline structure situated behind the central incisors.
 Incisive foramen lies immediately beneath the papillae.
 As resorption progresses, it comes to lie nearer to the crest of the ridge.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANE
a) While making final impression pressure should not be applied on this
region.

28. Midpalatine raphe
 This is the median suture area covered by a thin submucosa.
 This area is sensitive to pressure application
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) If pressure is applied during impression making,the denture base will
cause soreness over the midpalatine raphe area.

29. Mandibular landmarks

30. Limiting structures

31. Labial frenum
 It consists band of fibrous connective tissue and helps to attach
orbicularis oris muscle.
 It is shorter and wider than the maxillary labial frenum.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) During final impression making sufficient relief must be given
without compromising the peripheral seal.
b) Proper fit around it maintains seal without soreness.

32. Labial vestibule
 It runs from the labial frenum to buccal frenum.
 Fibers of orbicularis oris,incisivus and mentalis are inserted near the
crest of the ridge. Mentalis muscle is an active muscle.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
a) Extent of the denture flange in this region is often limited because of
muscle that are inserted close to the crest of the ridge.
b) Thick denture flanges may cause dislodgement of dentures when
patient opens the mouth wide open.

33. Buccal frenum
 It is a mucous membrane extending from buccal mucous membrane
reflection toward the slope or crest of the residual ridge in the region
just distal to the cuspid eminence.
 May be single or double.
 It overlies depressor anguli oris muscle.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
a) Relief for buccal frenum is given in denture to avoid displacement of
the denture.

34. Buccal vestibule
 Extends from buccal frenum to the outside back corner of the retromolar
pad.
 It is nearly at right angles to biting forces.
 Extent of the buccal vestibule is influenced by buccinators muscle,which
extends from modiolous anteriorly to pterygomandibular raphe.
 The masseter muscle contracts under heavy closing force and pushes
inward against the buccinators muscle to produce a massetric notch in the
distobuccal border of the lower denture.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 The distobuccal border of the lower denture should accommodate the
contracting masseter muscle so that the denture does not dislodge during
heavy closing force.

35. Lingual frenum
 It is a fold of mucous membrane existing when the tip of the tongue is
elevated.
 It overlies the genioglossus muscle which takes origin from the superior
genial tubercle.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
 The relief for the lingual frenum should be registered during function.

36. Retromolar pad
 It is a non-keratinised triangular pear-shaped pad of tissue at the distal
end of the lower ridge.
 Submucosa contains glandular tissue, fibers of buccinators and
superior constrictor muscle, pterygomandibular raphe and terminal
part of the tendon of the temporalis.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
a) The distal end of the denture pad should cover 2/3rd of the retromolar
pad.
b) The retromolar pad provides the peripheral posterior seal for the
lower denture.

37. Pterygomandibular raphe
 Raphe=tendinous insertion of two muscles.
 Arises from the hamular process of the medial pterygoid and gets
attached to the mylohyoid ridge.
 Muscular attachments present here are:
a) superior constrictor---postreolaterally
b) Buccinator-------------anterolaterally
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) Since it is very prominent in some patients a notch like relief must be
provided on the denture.

38. Alveolingual Sulcus
 It is the space between residual ridge and tongue
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The lingual flange of the lower denture will be short
anteriorly than posteriorly
The lingual flange in the middle region slopes medially
towards the tongue

40. Buccal shelf area
 It is the area between buccal frenum and anterior border of masseter
muscle.
 BOUNDARIES:
a) Medially-the crest of the ridge.
b) Distally-the retromolar pad
c) Laterally-the external oblique ridge.
It has a thick submucosa overlying a cortical plate.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) It lies at right angles to the vertical occlusal force;makes it suitable as
primary stress bearing area for lower denture.

41. FIG:BUCCAL SHELF AREA

42. Residual alveolar ridge
 The endentulous mandible may become flat, due to resorption; which
results into outward inclination and progressively widening of
mandible.
 Similarly maxilla resorbs upward and inward making it smaller.
 It is the reason for edentulous patients to have prognathic apperance.

43. ……continued
 The slopes of residual alveolar ridge have thin plate of cortical bone.The
slopes of the ridge are at an acute angle to occlusal forces.
 Hence,it is considered as a SECONDARY stress bearing area.
 Since crest of the ridge has cancellous bone, it is not favourable as
primary stress bearing area.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
a) Any movable soft tissue overlying the ridge should not be compressed
while making impression.

44. Relief areas
 Mental foramen
 Genial tubercle
 Torus mandibularis

45. Mental foramen
 It lies between the 1st and 2nd premolar region.
 Due to ridge resorption,it may lie close to the ridge.
 CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
a) It should be relieved in these areas as pressure over the nerve passing
through it can get compressed leading to paraesthesia of lower lip.

46. Genial tubercle
 These are pair of bony tubercles on lingual side of the body of
mandible.
 With resorption tubercles become increasingly prominent.
Torus mandibularis
a) These are the abnormal bony prominence found bilaterally on the
lingual side, near the premolar region.
b) It is covered by thin mucosa.
c) It has to be relieved or surgically removed,
according to its size and extent.

47. REFERENCES
 Prosthodontic treatment for edentulous patient : Zarb Bolender
 Preclinical manual of prosthodontics : S Lakshmi
 Impressions for complete dentures : Bernard Levin
 Textbook of Prosthodontic : Nallasyamy