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Home/Blog / Should I Have Surgery to Remove My Tori?

Should I Have Surgery to Remove My Tori?

Tori are extra bone that is present on the upper or lower jaw that may or may not require surgery.  Many people do not even know that they have tori!  Once the tori are ‘discovered’ they may cause concerns.  Because they tend to grow very slowly, they can often go unnoticed by people that have them.  Often it is a dentist who is the first to point out the presence of the tori.  This blog will show a couple examples of upper and lower tori and the surgical removal of a tori.

Tori on the upper jaw. Most common location is on the middle of the palate or roof of the mouth.

Tori on the upper jaw. Most common location is on the middle of the palate or roof of the mouth.

Tori on the lower jaw. Most common location is on the tongue side, or lingual side, of the jaw.

Tori on the lower jaw. Most common location is on the tongue side, or lingual side, of the jaw.

Tori have the following characteristics:

Tori may interfere with dental appliances in which case they must be removed or the appliance modified to fit around the tori.  A partial denture is used to replace missing teeth.  If the partial denture covers the tori and the tori continues to grow, the partial may not fit as well over time.  If a major portion of a dental appliance covers a tori it may not be able to be modified sufficiently to allow continued wear of the appliance.

Tori may be present on one side of the jaw only like this one that is seen on the lower right on the tongue side of the teeth.

Tori may be present on one side of the jaw only like this one that is seen on the lower right on the tongue side of the teeth.

This tori is present on the lip side or buccal side of the teeth.

This tori is present on the lip side or buccal side of the teeth.

Surgery usually is completed in the office of an oral surgeon.  You can often sleep though this surgery if desired.  Prior to completing surgery to remove a tori, you should have a three dimensional xray taken of your jaws to determine the safety of completing the surgery.

Palatal Tori before removal

Palatal Tori before removal

Same area after removal of palatal tori.

Same area after removal of palatal tori.

Shown are before and after images of a palatal tori that was removed by an oral surgeon for patient comfort.

Our office will refer you to the office of an oral surgeon familiar with this procedure.  It is in your best interest to achieve the best result possible!