GOOD MORNING

THE POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL

Presented by

POORNIMA P
1ST YEAR PG
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 DEFINITIONS
 ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR VIBRATING LINE
 CLASSIFICATION OF SOFT PALATES
 FUNCTIONS OF POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL
 ANATOMIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC
CONSIDERATIONS
 RATIONALE AND IMPORTANCE OF POSTERIOR
PALATAL SEAL
 PARAMETERS OF POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL
 LOCATING POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL REGION
 METHODS OF RECORDING POSTERIOR
PALATAL SEAL
 RECORDING POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL IN
SECONDARY IMPRESSION –APPOINTMENT STAGE
 DETERMINING POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL ON MASTER
CAST
 TECHNIQUES
 CONVENTIONAL APPROACH (WINKLER’S TECHNIQUE)
 FLUID WAX TECHNIQUE
 ARBITARY SCRAPING
 OTHER TECHNIQUES
 TROUBLE SHOOTING IN POSTERIOR PALATAL
SEAL AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
 SUMMARY
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
A well-fitting and retentive complete denture
requires a well-fitting tissue surface, a peripheral
border compatible with the muscles and tissues
which make up the mucobuccal and mucolabial
spaces so that a peripheral seal is created by the
soft tissue draping over them.
 It is usually obtained by labial and buccal seal.
In the posterior region, it is mainly by the posterior
palatal seal. At the posterior extension of the
maxillary denture, where the tissues are less
compliant, special attention is required to make the
seal effective.
GPT- 8 defines
Posterior Palatal Seal as
Posterior palatal seal is the seal at the posterior
border of a maxillary removable dental prosthesis.
Posterior Palatal Seal Area as
Posterior palatal seal area is the soft tissue area at or
beyond the junction of hard and soft palates on
which pressure, within physiologic limits, can be
applied by a denture to aid in its retention.
GPT-9 defines Posterior Palatal Seal as
“That portion of the intaglio surface of a maxillary
removable complete denture located at its posterior
border which places pressure within the
physiologic limits, on the posterior palatal seal area
of the palate, this seal ensures intimate contact of
the denture base to the soft palate and improves
retention of the denture.”
syn: POSTPALATAL SEAL; POST DAM
Posterior Palatal Seal Area
“the soft tissue area limited posteriorly by the distal
demarcation of the movable and nonmovable
tissues of the soft palate and anteriorly by the
junction of hard and soft palate on which pressure,
within physiologic limits can be placed, this seal
can be applied by a removable complete denture to
aid in its retention.”
syn: POSTPALATAL SEAL AREA; POST DAM AREA
ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR
VIBRATING LINE
 Anterior vibrating line is an imaginary line located
at the junction of the attached tissues overlying the
hard palate and movable tissues of the
immediately adjacent soft palate.
 Visualized while patient is instructed to say ‘ah’
with short vigorous bursts.
 Is always on soft palate tissues
Anterior vibrating line
 Posterior vibrating line is an imaginary line at the
junction of aponeurosis of the tensor veli palatini
muscle and the muscular portion of the soft palate.
 Visualised while patient is instructed to say ‘ah’ in
short bursts in a normal, unexaggerated fashion.
 Marks the most distal extension of the denture
base.
Posterior vibrating line
CLASSIFICATION OF SOFT
PALATE
Classification of Palatal throat form as given by
MM House:
Class 1:
 Large and normal in form
 Immovable band of resilient tissue 5-12 mm distal
to a line drawn across distal edge of the
tuberosities (more than 5mm of movable tissue is
available for post damming )
 Ideal for retention.

Ref: Bernard Levin; Impressions for

complete denture
Class 2:
 Medium size and normal in form
 immovable resilient band of tissue 3-5 mm distal to
a line drawn across the distal edge of the
tuberosities (1-5mm of movable tissues available
for post damming)
 good retention is usually possible
Class 3:
 Usually accompanies a small maxilla.
 The curtain of soft tissues turns down abruptly 3-5
mm anterior to a line drawn across the palate at the
distal edge of the tuberosities(less than 1mm of
movable tissues available for postdamming)
 Retention is usually poor.
REF : Shelly Goyal, Mukesh K Goyal, Dhanasekar Balkrishanan, Veena Hegde , Aparna
Narayana
The posterior palatal seal: Its rationale and importance: An overview European
journal of prosthodontics
Class I Class II

Class III
a)hard palate b)soft palate c)palatal extension of denture
 Based on degree of flexure that soft palate makes
with hard palate:
Class I:
 Almost horizontal with little movement
 Angle of less than 10 degrees with hard palate
 Most favorable
 Allows best tissue coverage(more than 5mm)
 Development of wide posterior palatal seal.

Ref: V Rangarajan and T V Padmanabhan; Textbook Of

Prosthodontics; Second Edition
Class II:
 Makes 45 degree angle with hard palate
 Tissue coverage less than class I (3-5mm)
Class III:
 Makes 70 degree angle with hard palate
 Least favorable
 Allows least tissue coverage(less than 3mm)
 Usually associated with V-shaped palate
A) Less than 10 degree movement
B) 45 degree movement
C) 70 degree movement
Based on muscle activity and slopes of soft
palate
Class I:
 most favorable palate for placing adequate
posterior palatal seal
 Soft palate need not have to rise far to meet the
walls of throat to obturate the opening to the
nasopaharynx

Ref: Charles M Heartwell ;Textbook Of Complete Dentures; Fifth Edition

Class II:
 More muscle activity than class I

Class III:
 Considerable muscle activity for closure of
nasopharynx
 Action makes placing posterior palatal seal difficult.
FUNCTIONS OF POSTERIOR
PALATAL SEAL

 To maintain contact with the anterior portion of the

soft palate during functional movements of the
stomatognathic system (mastication, deglutition
and phonation)
 To provide retention
 Prevents ingress of fluid, air and food between
denture and tissue.
 Diminishes gagging reflex
 Provides embedded sunken border which is less
conspicuous to tongue
 Compensate for the volumetric shrinkage that
occurs during polymerization of methyl
methacrylate resin
 Adds confidence and comfort to the patient by
enhancing retention
 Establishes positive contact posteriorly—prevents
final material from sliding down into pharynx
 Correctly placed posterior palatal seal will create a
partial vacuum beneath maxillary complete denture
 This will resist horizontal and tipping forces and
prevents displacement of denture.
ANATOMIC AND PHYSIOLOGIC
CONSIDERATIONS
POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL

Pterygomaxillary seal
palatal seal
Pterygomaxillary seal
extends through pterygomaxillary notch continuing 3-
4 mm anterolaterally, approximating the mucogingival
junction.
 It occupies entire width of hamular notch (loose
connective tissue lying between pterygoid hamulus of
the sphenoid bone and distal portion of maxillary
tuberosity).
 The notch is covered by pterygomaxillary fold
(extend from posterior aspect of tuberosity to
retromolar pad).
 This fold influences the posterior border seal if
mouth is wide open during final impression
procedure.
• The pterygomandibular ligament extends from the
hamular process to the lingula of the mandible. The
tensor palati muscle wraps around the hamular
process and attaches to the posterior nasal spine to
form the palatal aponeurosis.
 The exact position of hamular process is
important{2 to 4mm posteromedial to the distal limit
of the maxillary residual ridge},since this will affect
the length and direction of pterygomaxillary seal.
 The hamular process are covered by a thin layer of
mucous membrane.
Postpalatal seal is the area between the anterior
and posterior vibrating line found medially from one
tuberosity to other.
 It appears to be as a cupids bow.
 Anterior vibrating line demarcates zone of
transition between non movable tissues overlying
hard palate and movable tissues of soft palate.
 It serves as anterior border of posterior palatal
seal.
 It extends laterally into pterygomaxillary notch.
 It is not a straight line due to presence of posterior
nasal spine.
 It always occurs in soft palate.
Fovea palatini are two glandular ductal openings
within the tissues of the posterior portion of the
hard palate lying either side of the midline.
 Several other palatal mucous glands drain into this
duct.
 They serve no other function
 Fovea palatini should be used only as guidelines to
placement of posterior palatal seal.
 According to Lye, the fovea palatini are located on
average 1.31mm anterior to anterior vibrating line
 According to Chen, fovea were located either on or
behind the anterior vibrating line.
 According to Swenson, vibrating line is 2mm in
front of fovea palatini.
 Silverman concluded that posterior palatal seal can
be extended 8.2mm distal to vibrating line for
retention and stability.
 Median palatal raphe, overlies median palatal
suture.
 Contains little or no submucosa and will tolerate
little compression.
 Judicious placement of posterior palatal seal
across midpalatal suture in the region of posterior
nasal spine is demanded.
 Prominent midpalatal fissure extending to soft
palate should be carefully reproduced in master
cast, to ensure proper peripheral seal.
 Presence of thick ropy saliva may create
problem for maxillary complete denture retention.
 Thick saliva create a hydrostatic pressure in the
area anterior to the posterior palatal seal, resulting
in downward dislodging force exerted upon the
denture base.
 To alleviate this problem, a fine line or Cupid’s
bow can be scribed on the master cast, anterior to
the clusters of palatal mucous glands.
 RATIONALE AND IMPORTANCE OF
POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL

 Often it is possible to obtain acceptable stability

and retention by a perfectly adapted denture base
through the forces of adhesion, cohesion, and
interfacial surface tension.
 This border seal is made possible by developing
the proper width and the extension of the denture
borders, so that they fill the spaces and make a
seal against the cheeks.

REF : slides 25-32 Shelly Goyal, Mukesh K Goyal, Dhanasekar Balkrishanan, Veena
Hegde , Aparna Narayana
The posterior palatal seal: Its rationale and importance: An overview European
 Posterior palatal seal will create a partial vacuum
that will not operate continuously, but one that will
come into play only when horizontal or tipping
thrusts tend to dislodge the denture and then only
long enough to overcome the emergency.
 This partial vacuum is unlikely to operate long
enough to do any damage to the supporting or
border tissues.
 The retention of complete denture may be
accomplished more accurately and safely with a
good appraisal of the biological factors.
PARAMETERS OF POSTERIOR
PALATAL SEAL
 Posterior palatal seal has specific characteristics
with different parameters, it is variable in its size,
shape and location.
 Depends on anatomical configuration of soft and
hard palate, their relationship, muscle coordination,
and amount of tissue displaceability.
Size
 Hardy and Kapoor claimed that on an average, the
dimension of posterior palatal seal was 2 mm at
the midpalatal region and hamular notch and 4 mm
at the greatest curvature region of posterior palatal
seal.
 Silverman performed a study evaluating the
posterior palatal seal clinically, radiographically,
and histologically, and he found that the greatest
mean anteroposterior width of posterior palatal seal
is 8.0 mm (with 5-12 mm of range)
Shape
 Winland and Young performed a survey to
evaluate the forms of posterior palatal seal used in
various schools of United States.
 They found that five different forms of posterior
palatal seal were commonly used
• Single bead scribed on the posterior vibrating
line
• Double line scribed in the anterior and
posterior vibrating line
• Butterfly shaped posterior palatal sea
• Butterfly shaped posterior palatal seal with
notching of posterior vibrating line
• Butterfly shaped posterior palatal seal with
notching of hamular notch
 Variations used with different shaped soft palate
based on the classification.
Class 1: A butterfly shaped posterior palatal seal with
3-4 mm wide
Class 2: Posterior palatal seal is narrow with 2-3 mm
of width
Class 3: A single beading made on the posterior
vibrating line.
REF : slides 25-32 Shelly Goyal, Mukesh K Goyal, Dhanasekar Balkrishanan,
Veena Hegde , Aparna Narayana
The posterior palatal seal: Its rationale and importance: An overview European
Displacement/compressibility
 Lot of variation has been found within the posterior
palatal seal area.
 But low compressibility has been observed in
midpalatal raphe and hamular notch region.
 High compressibility has been in the lateral part of
cupids bow.
 Its variation depends on the form of palatal vault
like in class I palate posterior palatal seal area
remains shallow, while it is deep in class III palate.
LOCATING POSTERIOR PALATAL
SEAL REGION
As the tissues of this area are displaceable, the seal
area can be identified when the movable tissues
are functioning..
1. Palpation method using ‘T’ burnisher.
2. Nose blow method or valsalva maneuver-closing
both nostrils of yhe patient and asking him to blow
gently through the nose.
3. Phonation method- visualizing the vibrating lines
as the patient says ‘ah’
4. Anatomic landmark- using fovea palatini to
identify vibrating area
METHODS TO REGISTER
POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL
Recording posterior palatal seal in secondary
impression appointment stage
 In functional technique, final impression is border
molded in the posterior palatal seal area with soft
stick compound or impression wax
 Patient perform sucking and bubbling movements
 In semifunctional technique ,border molding is
done by the dentist.
Patient position
• Seated in upright position
• Head flexed 30 degree forward, below FH plane to
allow the soft palate to reach its functionally
depressed position.
• Patients tongue should be placed under tension
against
-- either handle of impression tray or
-- dentist’s finger which is held in the region of
upper maxillary incisors.
Determining posterior palatal seal on master cast
• Scrapping of posterior palatal seal on the cast
allows the seal area to have convex surface on the
denture
• Slightly displaces soft palate thereby achieving
peripheral seal.
TECHNIQUES
CONVENTIONAL APPROACH (WINKLER’S
TECHNIQUE)
 Ask patient to have astringent mouthwash (to
remove stringy saliva) and keep his head
upright.
 Dry the posterior palatal area with gauze and
palpate for hamular process using T-
burnisher/mouth mirror.
 Mark them with indelible pencil (Dr. Thompson’s
sanitary color transfer applicator)and make sure
denture does not cover them.
 T-burnisher is passed along posterior angle of
maxillary tuberosity until it drops into
pterygomaxillary notch
 Extend the mark from pterygomaxillary notch 3-4
mm anterolateral to maxillary tuberosity
approximating mucogingival junction.
 This completes marking of pterygomaxillary seal.
Ask patient to say “ah” in short bursts, in
unexaggerated fashion. Observe movement of soft
palate and mark posterior vibrating line, and then
connect it to pterygomaxillary seal.
a) Locating pterygomaxillary notch with T-burnisher
b) Area of compressibility in posterior palatal seal and
c) Marked posterior vibrating line
 Advice patient, not to close mouth (to prevent
smudging of markings).
 The resin/shellac tray is then inserted into the
mouth and seated firmly into tray and transfer
markings on master cast by placing it into cast.
 Later trim excess found on tray.
 Mark anterior vibrating line using either by T-
burnisher (by checking the compressibility in width
and depth)-usually termination of glandular tissue
usually coincides with anterior vibrating line or
Valsalva maneuver.
 Place special tray in the mouth and get the
markings on tray which is later transferred to
master cast
 Master cast is scored using a Kinsley scraper.
 Deepest area of seal is located on either side of
midline (1/3rd distance from posterior vibrating
line).
 Scraped to a depth of 1 to 1.5mm
 Median palatal raphe scrapped to a depth of
approximately 0.5-1.0 mm (has little submucosa
and cannot withstand same force of compression)
 Within out line of cupids bow, scrape cast to a
depth of about ½ the amount to which the palatal
tissue in that area can be compressed.
Advantages:
(1) highly retentive trial bases give good jaw relation,
(2) gives psychological confidence to patient that
retention will not be a problem in final denture,
(3) dentist is able to determine the retention of final
denture, and
(4) patient will be able to realize the posterior extent
of denture, which may ease the adjustment period
Disadvantages
1) not a physiological technique
2) depends upon accurate transfer of vibrating line
and careful scrapping and
3) has potential for over compression
FLUID WAX TECHNIQUE

Also called FUNCTIONAL TECHNIQUE OR

PHYSIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE
 Start with locating and transfer of anterior and
posterior vibrating line similar to conventional
approach.
 Then with marking made, final impression is made
using ZOE/impression plaster (not with elastomeric
impression material as they are resilient,
nonadherent to wax, and distort the wax when
reseated into oral cavity).
 Impression waxes used are
 IOWA wax (white) - Dr. Earl S. Smith,
 Korecta wax no. 4 (orange) Dr. O. C. Applegate
 K.l physiologic paste (yellow-white) - Dr. C.S.
Howkins,
 Adaptol (green) - Dr. Nathen G. Kyn
 These waxes have specific characteristics like
 low-melting point to permit their use intraorally
without discomfort or trauma,
 high flow rate at mouth temperature (98.6°F),
 low distortion and rigidity at room temperature,
smooth and non granular texture,
 allows addition of several layers without
demarcation, and
 these waxes can harden readily when chilled.
 The melted wax is painted into the impression
surface (within the outline of the seal area).
 The impression is carried to the mouth and held in
place under gentle pressure for 4-6 min and allow
time for the material to flow.
 Take care for head position (30° to FH plane).
 After 4 min remove impression tray and trim excess
(or) if no tissue contact is established then add and
redo the procedure.
Fluid wax technique
Advantages
1) physiologic technique displacing tissues,
2) no over compression of tissues,
3) posterior palatal seal incorporated into trial
denture base for added retention, and
4) no mechanical scrapping of cast is required
Disadvantages
1) time consuming
2) cumbersome
3) difficulty in handling material and
4) additional care to be taken during boxing
procedure
ARBITARY SCRAPING

According to Winkler,
 arbitrarily mark the anterior and posterior vibrating
line and scrape about 1-1.5 mm.
 It is the least accurate methods used to mark the
posterior palatal seal.
 Its high potential for over post damming is due to
its nature of unphysiologic technique of recording.
 BOUCHER’S TECHNIQUE
 The width of the posterior palatal seal is limited to a
bead on the denture that is 1.5 mm deep and 1.5
mm broad at its base with a sharp apex
 The resulting design is a beaded posterior palatal
seal.
 The narrow and sharp bead will sink easily into the
soft tissue to provide a seal against air being
forced under the denture.

REF : slides 62-86 YA Bindhoo, VR Thirumurthy, Sunil Joseph Jacob,

Anjanakurien, KS Limson Posterior Palatal Seal: A Literature Review jaypee
BERNARD LEVIN’S TECHNIQUE
For class III soft palate forms:
 He describes a ‘double bead’ technique for class III
soft palate.
 Here, the posterior vibrating line is scrapped 1 mm
deep and 1.5 mm wide.
 An anterior bead line is created about 3 to 4 mm
from the posterior border.
 This is considered as the ‘rescue bead’.
 Bernard stated that even though the anterior bead
is located on the hard palate, the keratinization of
the mucosa can tolerate small amount of tissue
displacement and pressure.
For class I and class II soft palate forms:
 Using No. 8 round bur of 2 mm diameter, two
holes of 2 mm depth are drilled at the depth of the
bur in the area between the midline and hamular
notches.
 One hole of 1 mm depth is drilled to half the
diameter of the bur in the center.
 A cone-shaped acrylic resin bur is used to rough
out the seal.
 The hamular notch region is not reduced more than
0.25 mm in width and 0.5 mm in depth and not
extended onto the tuberosity vestibules.
 The softest part of the seal is scraped to 6 mm in
width, whereas the median raphe region is scraped
to 4 mm in width.
 A medium grid sand paper is used to smooth the
surface.
PPS designs with the cross-sectional views depicted in
wax:
(A) Single bead (Boucher’s technique) and
(B) double bead (Bernard Levin class III technique)

A B
Bernard Levin PPS design for class I and II soft palates
with the cross-sectional view depicted in wax
SWENSON’S TECHNIQUE
 A groove is cut along the posterior line to a depth of
1 to 1.5 mm that will cause the posterior border
stand straight out from the hard palate, turning
neither up nor down .
 From the depth of this posterior cut, the cast is
scraped in a tapering manner, so that it tapers up
to the anterior line.
CALOMENI,FELDMAN,KUEBKER’S
TECHNIQUE
 A posterior bead line is scraped on the cast to a
depth of 1 to 1.5 mm extending bilaterally through
the hamular notches.
 The anterior line is placed 5 or 6 mm anterior to the
posterior line.
 The area between the anterior and posterior lines
is scraped with Kingsley Scraper No 1.
 The depth of the cast scraped should vary from
zero at the anterior line to the depth of 1 to 1.5 mm
along the posterior border.
 In the midline, the distance between the anterior
and posterior lines should be about 2 to 3 mm.
PPS designs with the cross-sectional views depicted in
wax:
(A) Butterfly (Swenson technique) (B) Butterfly with
bead (Calomeni technique)

A B
POUND’S TECHNIQUE
 Pound advocates a single bead posterior palatal
seal with anterior extensions for additional air seal.
 A ‘V’- shaped groove is carved across the palate
from the hamular notch to hamular notch 1 to 1.5
mm wide and 1 to 1.5 mm deep.
 This is placed 2 mm anterior to vibrating line.
 A loop is carved on either side of the midline to
provide air seal.
 The depth and width of the anterior loop are
determined by palpating the area with a blunt end
of the instrument.
APPLE BAUM-WINKLER’S
TECHNIQUE
 A Kingsley scraper is used to score the cast .
 The deepest parts of the seal are located on either
side of the midline, one-third distance anteriorly
from the posterior vibrating line.
 It is scraped to a depth of 1 to 1.5 mm.
 Close to mid-palatine region, the area is scraped to
a depth of 0.5 to 1.0 mm as it has little submucosa
and cannot withstand the same compressive forces
as tissues lateral to it.
 The scraping is gradually feathered out as it
approaches the anterior vibrating line and is
tapered toward the posterior vibrating line. The
posterior palatal seal resembles, like Cupid’s bow.
(A) Pound’s technique and
(B) Winkler’s technique of PPS design with the cross-
sectional views depicted in wax

A B
SILVERMAN’S TECHNIQUE
(EXTENDED PALTAL TECHNIQUE)
 A pencil line is inscribed from hamulus to hamulus
midway between the anterior and posterior
vibrating lines.
 A shallow scratch mark is placed on the anterior
vibrating line and the posterior vibrating line is
scored to a depth of one half of that of the
midscore line.
 The cast is scraped over the entire seal area.
 The depth of the cast scraping diminishes from the
midline to the anterior and posterior vibrating lines.
 He also suggested that complete maxillary
dentures can be extended on an average distance
of 8.2 mm distal to the anterior vibrating line
 Black compound added 8-12mm distal to anterior
vibrating line.
 The convexities that form the distal outline of the
seal areas are formed by the depression between
tensor veli palatini and palatoglossus muscle.
This technique is advantageous and most effective
with
 class I soft palate
 small, mobile and displaceable ridges
 narrow and high-vaulted maxillary arches.
This provides maximum tissue coverage with
minimum tongue irritation and pressure on residual
ridges.
HARDY AND KAPUR TECHNIQUE
 The depth of the posterior palatal seal area is
identified by pressing the ball portion of the T-
burnisher.
 The posterior palatal seal is extended 4mm from
the distal border of the denture and narrowed down
to 2mm in width through the hamular notch region.
 The scraping of the cast is done in such a fashion
that the depth of the posterior palatal seal is
maximum at the center and tapers to zero toward
its anterior and posterior border.
(A) Silverman’s technique
(B) Hardy and Kapur’s technique of PPS designs with the
cross-sectional views depicted in wax

A B
ULTRA SONIC TECHNIQUE- by
Rajeev MN et al
 For medical applications 1-20 MHz are used and
for non diagnostic medical application <1MHz is
used.
 Ultrasonic effects are nonionizing (do not have
sufficient energy to displace electrons from orbital
shell.
 High-energy ultrasound can cause burning of
tissue (not commonly seen with range of medical
use).

Ref: Rajeev M N,Marc B Appelbaum: An Investigation Of The Anatomic

Position Of The Posterior Palatal Seal By Ultrasound; The journal of
prosthetic dentistry 2016
 It is indicated in patients with only class I, II type of
palates, as type III palate prevents complete
adaptation of transducer and it is contraindication
in patients with neuromuscular impairments and
pronounced gag reflex.
 Miniature transducer (10 MHz linear array) is used
along with a real-time B-mode to view image of soft
tissue.
 Mark posterior palatal seal using conventional
method.
 Place a thin rubber band on anterior 1/3rd of
transducer, which serves as an index that would
appear in monitor.
 Toothpaste is used as a line couplant.
 The transducer is taken into oral cavity and initially
moved posteriorly to the left of midline to locate
hard and soft palate junctions.
 Once the rubber band is visualized on posterior
vibrating line and no display, a Polaroid picture is
made.
 Then it is moved to right side of palate.
 The average distance of posterior vibrating from
junction of hard and soft palate is 2-9 mm with 4-6
mm wide posterior palatal seal.
TROUBLE SHOOTING ON
POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL AND ITS
CLINICAL IMPLICATION
 The most common problem associated with lack of
retention of the maxillary complete denture is a
faulty posterior palatal seal.
 A careful examination of the patient’s tissues and
extensions of the existing denture helps to
delineate the anatomical boundaries of the
posterior palatal seal area, so that an adequate
seal can be established.
UNDEREXTENSION

 most common cause of seal failure

 Occurs mainly due to fovea palatine as guideline
for anterior and posterior vibrating line.
 4-12mm tissue coverage loss occur due to
decreased retention.
 Tissues covering hard palate are firmly attached
and main retention is by adhesion and cohesion,
which is least during function.
 In case of gaggers who cannot tolerate denture
base far behind in palate, they insist on reduction
of denture base.
 Dentists unsure of his technique complies to
patients request leading with decreased retention.
 Improper recognition of anterior and posterior
vibrating line
 Injudicious trimming of denture border by
technicians.
OVEREXTENSION

 It mainly occurs due to overzealous extension of

denture base for increased retention by dentist
 cause physiological violation of soft palate
musculature.
 Symptoms
 mucosal ulcerations
 painful swallowing
 sharp pain if pterygoid hamulus is covered
 It can be managed by selectively relieving the
pressure areas and decrease the distal length
UNDER POSTDAMMING

 It mainly occurs due to improper depth of

postdamming
 use of improper technique
 recording posterior palatal seal in a wide open
position which causes toughening of
pterygomandibular ligament and shorten the
pterygomaxillary seal.
 It can be diagnosed using two tests,
(1) Seat dentures in mouth ask patient to say ‘‘ah’’
and with mouth mirror view of any gap during
speech,
(2) Place wet denture base and press slowly in
midpalatal region and bubbles escaping at any
point on distal denture border indicates area of
under postdamming.
OVER POSTDAMMING

 Commonly occur due to aggressive scraping of

cast.
 If it occurs in pterygomaxillary seal, the denture is
displaced downward.
 If moderate over postdamming is present, then
mild irritation is found.
 It can be overcome by selectively relieving denture
border with a carbide bur, followed by light
pumicing.
 Development of mucous retention cyst has been
described by Ellis occurred due to over extended
denture border.
 Gagging is commonly encountered and should be
managed carefully before altering any prosthesis.
ADDITION OF POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL
TO EXISTING DENTURE
 Existing denture may have poor length and depth
of posterior palatal seal.
 Properly examine existing denture.
 If there are other problems in denture (vertical
dimension, centric, esthetics, etc.), then new
denture is to be made.
 If only posterior palatal seal is short, then
correction should be undertaken.
 Different authors have advised various techniques
using different materials in the literature.
Frank and Salvatore have described
 the technique of correction of short posterior
extension with poor retention and improper depth
of posterior palatal seal with heat-cured acrylic
resin.
 This technique involves performing border molding
in posterior palatal seal area using existing denture
and modify area with fluid wax technique, which is
processed in heat-cure acrylic resin.
REF: Frank R. Lauciello, Salvatore P. Conti;A method of correcting the posterior palatal seal
area of a maxillary complete denture,jpd:december 1979 volume 42 number 6
Clinical Procedure
 Compound was added to the posterior palatal seal
area to establish adequate peripheral seal.
 Mouth temperature wax was added over the
compound to establish a physiologic posterior seal
 The patient’s teeth are always in occlusion
Laboratory procedure

 A matrix of stone is formed inside the denture

ending just anterior to the compound and wax.
 The stone is indexed and painted with separating
medium.
 A full cast is prepared to include the denture
borders and the stone matrix.
 The denture and matrix are removed from the cast,
and the wax and compound are removed from the
denture
 A butt joint finishing line is ground into the
polished surface of denture, and the posterior
border (tissue surface) of the denture is
roughened.
 The denture is reseated on the cast, and the
posterior part of the denture is waxed to
contour.
 The denture is half-flasked as with a partial
denture, in that all the teeth are covered, leaving
the waxed posterior section as the only exposed
surface.
 After separating medium has been applied to the
plaster, the denture is fully flasked.
 Boil out the wax and pack the mold with the same
kind of heat-curing acrylic resin that was originally
used.
 Cure the denture at 138 degree F for 12 hours.
 The lower temperature for curing may result in less
distortion of already cured resin.
 Deflask the denture, trim and polish to the butt
joint.
 Finished denture.
 It is virtually impossible to detect the corrected area
Moghadam and Scandrett
 advised the use of fluid wax technique for
recording posterior palatal seal
 All of the steps outlined for locating, marking, and
placing the wax in the seal area are followed,
except that this time the wax is placed on the
processed denture base.
 An indelible pencil is used to outline the anterior
extent of the seal on the denture.
 Fluid wax is painted in PPS area
 After the PPS is recorded (4-6 mins), the denture is
removed from the mouth.
 Stone is vibrated into the denture wax surface.
 After the stone has set, the wax is eliminated.
 The auto polymerizing acrylic powder is sprinkled
between the denture base and the cast while
holding on a vibrator.
 The monomer is then added drop wise.
 The denture is then replaced on the stone cast and
held firmly with rubber bands.
 They are then placed in a pressure pot with water
(140 (F) for 20 minutes under 30-psi pressure.
 After the cast and denture are separated, the
excess acrylic is trimmed and the border polished
lightly.
 The denture should be stored in water for 24 to 36
hours to reduce harmful residual monomer.
A similar technique using softened greenstick
modeling compound has been suggested by
Carrol and Shaffer.
Ansari described
A method of recording posterior palatal seal on
existing denture using modeling compound and
prepare a cast using putty material and replacing
modeling compound with autopolymerizing resin.
 Mark vibrating line in the mouth with an indelible
marker.
 Posterior palatal seal recorded with green
modelling compound.
 Transfer locations of vibrating line to denture
 Make a cast of intaglio surface of denture with putty
material; the cast must include all of posterior
palatal seal addition and extend 5 to 6mm
posteriorly.
 After putty material has set, use scalpel to cut
channels which allow excess autopolymerizing
acrylic resin to escape.
 Remove green stick compound and replace with
autopolymerizing resin in a pressure pot.
Sato described
 a technique of adding posterior palatal seal
immediately to existing denture by use of cross-
linked reline resin, light polymerized reline resins,
or dual polymerized reline resins with fabrication of
silicone putty core intraorally
Nimmo demonstrated
 a technique for the chairside correction of the
posterior palatal seal using a visible light-cured
resin.
ADDITION OF POSTERIOR PALATAL SEAL
TO METAL BASE COMPLETE DENTURE
 The main disadvantage of metal base is difficulty in
correcting deficient margin.
 The main source of retention of acrylic to metal
was by means of holes or slots.
Lyan described
 method of adding posterior palatal seal to metal
denture base by micromechanical bond produced
by etching of metal.
 After marking anterior and posterior vibrating line in
patient’s mouth, transfer into metal base.
 Then check for posterior palatal seal using
modeling compound.
 Then, etch the area of metal base to which acrylic
resin is to be attached for posterior palatal seal.
 The areas of metal base other than posterior
palatal seal should be protected from etchant using
wax
 Etching can be done using spot chemical etching,
with acid gel for 10-20 min, for base metal alloy or
chemical immersion etching
technique/electrochemical etching technique (10%
H2 S04 -300 mA, for 3 min followed by cleaning in
18% HCL in ultrasonic vibrating chamber).
 mix self-cure acrylic and apply in layers using
brush and seat in oral cavity till it sets.
 It is also found that the micromechanical bond
strength was above 16.70 MPa and 3.5 times
greater than retention using beads.
SUMMARY
CONCLUSION
 The recording of posterior palatal seal is of great
significance, because it is vital factor in
establishing the peripheral seal which enhances
retention by utilizing the atmospheric pressure.
 Posterior palatal seal preparation is an integral
part of maxillary complete denture fabrication,
requiring an assessment of physiological and
technical parameters and careful examination
during the diagnostic phase of the treatment can
alleviate many potential problems.
 According to Tilton-No step in the denture
construction should be stopped short of perfection.
Yet, many dentures are worn which have
imperfections built into them, provided they have
peripheral seal sufficient to hold them in place.
 The determination of the posterior limit and palatal
seal of the maxillary denture is not the technician’s
obligation, but the responsibility of the dentist’.
 So, this phase of denture fabrication should be
given due consideration for the success of the
denture and the health of the patient
REFERENCES
 Winkler S. Essentials of complete denture
prosthodontics, Second Edition. St. Louis: C V
Mosby1988:107
 Charles M Heartwell ;Textbook Of Complete
Dentures; Fifth Edition
 Bernard Levin; Impressions for complete
denture
 V Rangarajan and T V Padmanabhan; Textbook
Of Prosthodontics; Second Edition.
 YA Bindhoo, VR Thirumurthy, Sunil Joseph
Jacob, Anjanakurien, KS Limson Posterior
Palatal Seal: A Literature Review jaypee
journals 10.5005-1020
 Shelly Goyal, Mukesh K Goyal, Dhanasekar
Balkrishanan, Veena Hegde , Aparna
Narayana The posterior palatal seal: Its
rationale and importance: An overview
European journal of prosthodontics, 10.
4103/237-4610
 Ali Mariyam, Verma AK, Chaturvedi Saurabh,
Ahmad Naeem, Shukla Anuj Posterior Palatal
Seal (PPS): A brief review
THANK YOU