COURSE –

PROSTHODONTICS AND
CROWN AND BRIDGE

 MODULE NUMBER –BDSDEN205(1).02

 MODULE NAME – ANATOMICAL LANDMARKS OF THE

MANDIBLE

 NAME OF FACULTY –DR ANKITA TAMTA

 DESIGNATION –SENIOR LECTURER

 DEPARTMENT OF PROSTHODONTICS AND CROWN AND

BRIDGE

 NUMBER OF CLASSES REQUIRED – 2

 COURSE OBJECTIVE &
OUTCOME
 COURSE OBJECTIVE :Adequate knowledge
about anatomical landmarks of edentulous
mandible.

 COURSE OUTCOME :Students will have clear

idea about edentulous mandibular landmarks and
know about their significance in complete denture
fabrication.
 MUST KNOW AREA - IN
MODULE
• Classification of anatomical landmarks.

• Significance of each in complete denture

fabrication.
 GOOD TO KNOW AREA - IN MODULE

• Tori

• Theories of impression making

MANDIBULAR ANATOMIC
LANDMARKS
Edentulous mandible
 Limiting structures

 Supporting structures

 Relief areas
Mandibular limiting structures
1.LABIAL FRENUM

 contains a band of fibrous connective tissue--

--orbicularis muscle
 the frenum is quite sensitive and active
 the denture must be fitted carefully to
maintain seal without causing soreness
2.LABIAL VESTIBULE

 extends from labial frenum

to the buccal frenum

It accommodates the labial

flange of the dentures
It forms a part of valve seal
area
3. BUCCAL FRENUM
two or more in number
depressor anguli oris--muscle which
influences the frenum
hence it is active and sensitive, has to be
relieved in denture
4. BUCCAL VESTIBULE
it extends form the buccal frenum
posteriorly to the retro molar region
 EXTERNAL OBLIQUE RIDGE
its palpation is a valuable aid or landmark in
helping to ascertain the relative amount of
resistance or lack of resistance of the border
tissues in this region

 anatomic guide for lateral termination of buccal

flange of denture
5. retromolar pad
 is a triangular soft pad of tissue at distal end of
lower ridge
must be covered by the denture to perfect the
border seal in this region
contains
 glandular tissue
 fibers of the temporalis tendon
 buccinator enters it from buccal side
 fibers of the superior pharyngeal constrictor
enter it from the lingual
 the pterygomandibular raphe from
superoposterior
action of these muscles limit the extent of the
denture and prevents placement of extra
pressure on distal part of the retromolar pad
6. ANTERIROR LINGUAL VESTIBULE
influenced by genioglossus,lingual frenum and anterior
portion of sublingual gland
lingual frenum is superimposed over genioglossus which
is attached to genial tubercles
if ridge is highly resorbed, the genial tubercles are at
higher level– little or no vestibular space
The lingual border of the impression in this region
should extend down to make definite contact with the
mucous membrane floor of mouth, when the tip of the
tongue touches the upper incisors.
7. MIDDLE LINGUAL VESTIBULE OR
MYLOHYOID AREA
 is the largest area and is mainly
influenced by the mylohyoid and by
sublingual glands
 sublingual gland lies above the mylohyoid
muscle. The gland is raised when the
mylohyoid contracts during swallowing
8.DISTOLINGUAL VESTIBULE OR LATERAL
THROAT FORM
Space distal to the mylohyoid muscle is referred to as
the retromylohyoid fossa
 anteriorly ----mylohyoid muscle
posterlaterally ---superior constrictor
posteromedially – palatoglossus
medially --- tongue
laterally ---pear shaped pad
 the ‘s’ shaped curve of mandibular
denture results from strong instrinsic
and extrinsic muscles of tongue which
usually place retromylohyoid borders
more laterally and toward retromylohyoid
fossa
 LATERAL THROAT
FORM

NEIL’S
CLASSIFICATION

 CLASS I– DEEP
 CLASS II– MODERATE
 CLASS III- SHALLOW
SUPPORTING AND RELIEVING

STRUCTURES

OF THE

MANDIBLE
 Crest of the residual alveolar ridge
- covered by keratinized layer and
firmly attached to the periosteum
- cancellous in nature, does not have
a good cortical plate covering it
Significance
-hence it is a secondary relief area,
usually relieved during impression
 Slopes of residual alveolar ridge
- has thin plate of cortical bone
Significance
- because walls are steep and at
an angle to occlusal forces, it is not
suited for primary stress bearing,
hence it is secondary stress bearing
 Buccal shelf area
bounded by anteriorly –
buccal frenum

posteriorly – retromolar
pad

medially – crest of
alveolar ridge

laterally – external
oblique ridge
 Inferior part of buccinator is attached
in the buccal shelf area, but does not
interfere with the denture because the
fibers runs anteroposteriorly

 Significance
buccal shelf area may be very wide
and is at right angles to the vertical
occlusal forces. For this reason it offers
excellent resistance to such forces.
hence considered as primary stress
bearing area
 Mylohyoid ridge
bony ridge found on lingual side of the
mandible
- mylohyoid muscle is attached to this ridge
significance
- thin, sharp mylohyoid ridge can result
in soft tissue irritation when denture is
placed over it. Surgical correction may
be required
- height of the lingual flange is
determined by the mylohyoid ridge
 Mental foramen area

this is of concern when the ridge is

extremely resorbed
- foramen is found near or on the
ridge crest in premolar region
significance
- in such cases it should be relieved
- pressure on mental nerve can cause
numbness of the lip
 Torus mandibularis
 rounded prominences found in some individuals
 located in the region of PMs, midway between
soft tissues of the floor of the mouth and crest
of the ridge
 significance
-covered by a thin layer of mucous
membrane which may be irritated by the
denture, it should be relieved when
present
-large tori should be surgically
removed if they interfere with denture
seal
 Pterygomandibular raphe
 Tendinuos pterygomandibular raphe extends
inferiorly from pterygoid hamulus inserting in the
retromolar pad
 When mouth is opened widely, the raphe is
stretched
Significance:
 Streched raphe lifts the posterior
part of retromolar pad, denture
that has been extended on to this
structure may be dislodged during
energetic opening movement of the
mandible
REFERENCES / BOOKS

 Boucher's Prosthodontic Treatment

for Edentulous Patients (13th edition)