Causes Attributed to the Occurrence of Torus Palatinus - Essay Example

This type occurs the most frequent with the longer axis in a sagittal direction (Vidic 1511). The nodular torus arises as multiple protuberances, each with an individual base. These protruberances may coalesxe, forming grooves between them. The lobular torus is also a lobulated mass, but it rises from single base. Lobular tori can either be sessile or pedunculated (Neville 21). These exocytoses are usually composed of mature dense cancellous bone with a rim of cortical bone of variable thickness.

Occasional minimal osteoblastic activity or even hemopoietic marrow can be seen (Belsky 2061). Most palatal tori are small, measuring less that 2cm in diameter; however, they can slowly increase in size throughout life, sometimes to the extent that they fill the entire palatal vault (Neville 22). Torus palatinus is usually assymptomatic, growing into the the second and third decades of life and often goes unnoticed until middle age (Sisman 269). Like other tori, torus palatinus is benign and is not considered as a disease or pathology.

It is not usually indicated for surgical removal unless the torus is interfering with the use of dentures or with the patient's mouth functions. Recurrent mucosal lacerations covering a large torus can also be an indication for surgery. The prevalence of palatal tori has varied widely in a number of. One of the theories published in many journals is that torus palatinus is acquired genetically. In a study done by Gould in 1964 as to the inheritance of torus palatinus & torus mandibularis, he found out that in eight family pedigrees comprising in a total of 125 individuals, the locus for torus palatinus is on an autosome, because of its inheritance regardless of sex.

The gene for torus palatinus acts as a simple dominant gene (163). The same conclusion was given by Barbujani, et.al in their segregation analysis study of 99 sibships in 2 samples from Venezuela and Japan with the gene showing variable expressivity and penetrance close to 85% among the populations considered (317). Another study done by Gorsky, Bukai & Shohat on the genetic influence on the prevalence of torus palatinus also yield an autosomal dominant transmission in the vertical transmission of torus palatinus in 19 families.

They also saw a significantly higher number of affected offspring (60.3%) observed compared to the expected figure (50%) for an autosomal dominant trait with full penetrance. Another theory that is also widely accepted is tous palatinus (Last Name) 3due to environmental factors. This was the conclusion reached by n a study done by Halffman , Scott & Pedersen. They assessed the temporal and spatial variation of torus palatinus on all available Greenlandic Norse skeletons, as well as on samples of medieval Icelanders and Norwegians.

They observed that medieval Greenlanders from the Eastern and Western settlements exhibited higher frequencies and more pronounced expressions of palatine torus compared with early 11th century Greenlanders and they