It can be a little disconcerting to find bumps or growths anywhere in the body, not the least when you find them in your own mouth. One of the most common causes of such a growth is a torus (tori for plural).
Depending upon the jaw where they are found, these growths may be called either torus palatinus (when found in the upper jaw) or torus mandibularis (when found in the lower jaw).
What Is A Torus?
A torus is a bony overgrowth that can occur in many different regions of the body. It occurs quite commonly in the jaws and the range of occurrence varies from 12-30% across populations and ethnicities.
Among the jaws, it is found more commonly in the upper jaw in females and the lower jaw in the males.
Why Does It Occur?
The exact reason behind the occurrence of a torus is unknown, although there are some theories. The most popular one among them is that an increased amount of biting force can cause the bone to try and reinforce itself by adding some girth. There is, however, ample evidence of people that have biting forces within the range of normal developing tori in their mouths as well. This is why researchers believe that a genetic component to the occurrence of these bony growths must exist.
In fact, there is some research that tori are passed down as autosomal dominant traits which mean that the child will have this feature if either one of the parents has it.
The torus usually begins to appear after the child has hit puberty although in some cases it may appear later in life. The torus can increase in size for some time until it finds its own equilibrium and then stays the same for the rest of its life.
How Big Can This Torus Be?
These growths can vary quite a lot in size, appearance and in number. In the palate, the most common kind of torus is a singular one running down the midline of the palate and about a few centimeters long, while in the lower jaw, a bilateral appearance of the tori is the most common presentation. The tori in the lower jaw appear most commonly on the inside of the premolars.
The size of the tori in the lower jaw is usually smaller than the palate.
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In some occasions, though, the bony growths in both the upper and lower jaw can become extremely large. In such conditions, they start to affect the cosmetic appearance of the individual and can also compromise the prosthetic rehabilitation of the person.
This "interference" by the torus in prosthetic treatment is, in essence, the only reason why a torus would need to be removed. Since it is an overgrowth of the normal bone, there are no other symptoms involved.
As mentioned earlier, the torus does grow to a certain size before becoming stable, however, any growth that changes in size should be examined closely by a doctor and checked for the presence of any cancerous cells.
Your doctor will ideally note the presence of this torus in your clinical records and make a note of the size, shape, and extent of the bony growth for further reference.
Treatment Of Palatine
Is A Torus Cancerous In Nature?
No, it is absolutely not cancerous. It is just an excessive growth of the exact same kind of bone that is found normally in other parts of our body. This growth will not cause any symptoms like pain and discomfort of any kind or and thus really does not require treatment in most cases.
When Does A Torus Need Treatment?
A torus needs treatment only if it has grown to an excessively large size, such that it is starting to become a cosmetic concern, which by the nature of its recessed position it almost never does when it is smaller.
A torus may also need to be removed if it is preventing the fabrication of a denture for the patient. The presence of these irregular bony growths does not allow the denture to seat properly on the jaw bones and to form a tight enough seal that the denture can be used for chewing or even talking.
How Is A Torus Treated?
The treatment of these bony growths is done surgically and is relatively simple. The doctor will administer anesthesia to the patient, numbing the area in which the torus has formed and then use a blade to give a small incision on the gums.
This will allow the surgeon to gain access to the underlying bony overgrowth and then start the process of removing. The most commonly used methods for this removal include the use of bone files, fast rotating instruments or even piezosurgery for the largest of bony overgrowths.
Once the torus has been removed, the overlying gingival or palate will be stitched back into position. The procedure should take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending upon the size of the torus. Patients can expect some amount of swelling post the procedure since removal bone is a traumatic process for the body.
Your doctor may choose to put you on a course of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers to help you through the recovery period.
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Once a torus has been removed, it should not recur again.
Conclusion
Tori in the mouth are a relatively common condition that most people know nothing about. The panic that any kind of growth causes in the minds of patients makes them anxious, to the point they'll be running, not walking, to a doctor to get surgical treatment for the removal of these tori. Patients who just discovered a growth in their mouth should remember, though, that these growths are hardly ever surgically removed and that only a very few specific clinical situations demand such an intervention.
In other cases, such a procedure will serve no purpose or confer any benefit on the patient. We highly recommend patients to just let the tori be as they are and not to worry about them.
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