Posterior palatal seal
By Dr Reem Eltayeb
Seal
A means for preventing the passage of air or
moisture.
Posterior palatal seal area
It is a soft tissue along the junction of hard &
soft palate on which pressure with in the
physiologic limit on the tissue can be applied by
denture to aid in the retention of the denture.
• The peripheral seal of maxillary denture is a
area of contact between the mucosa &
peripheral polished surface of the denture
base, the seal prevent passage of air between
denture & tissue.
• Retention stability of a denture is achieved
from adhesion, cohesion & interfacial surface
tension that resist the dislodging forces that act
perpendicular to the denture base.
FUNCTION OF PPS
1- primary function is retention.
2- prevents food accumulation beneath the
posterior aspect of the denture.
3- reduces pt discomfort when contact occur
between dorsum of the tongue and post. Part of
the denture.
4- compensate for volumetric shrinkage that
occurs during polymerization of MMA.
• The adequate PPS resist the horizontal &
lateral forces acting on maxillary denture base
as the denture border terminate on soft
resilient tissue & there by maintain a proper
denture seal.
Anatomical & physiological considerations
1- The PPS is divided in two anatomic separate
boundaries:
A. Post palatal seal :
is extend one tuberosity to other.
B. Pterygomaxillary seal :
extend through pterygo maxillary notch continuing
for 3-4 mm anterolateral approximation the
mucogingival junction. It also occupies the entire
width of pterygomaxillary notch.
2- pterygomaxillary notch:
is covered by pterygomandibular fold which
extend from the posterior aspect of the
tuberosity posterior-inferiorly to insert into the
retro molar pad.
• This fold of tissue influence the posterior
border seal if the mouth is wide open position
during the final impression process.
3- Hamular notch :
should never be covered by denture as only
covered by thin layer of mucous membrane.
4- Fovea palatina:
• are two glandular opening within the tissue
posterior of hard palate lying on the either
side of midline.
• Fovea palatina should be used only as a
guideline for the placement of posterior
palatal seal.
5- Medial palatal raphe:
which overlies medial palatal suture contain
little or submucosa & will tolerate little or no
compression .
Vibrating line
• imaginary line across the posterior part of the
palate marking the division between the
movable &immovable tissue of the soft palate
which can be identified when the movable
tissue are moving.
Vibrating line
Anterior vibrating line Posterior vibrating line
Definition
It is an imaginary line lying at It is an imaginary line as
the junction between the junction of the aponeurosis of
immovable tissues over the tensor vili palatini muscles in
hard palate & the slightly the muscular portion of the soft
movable tissue of the soft palate.
palate.
Method of locating
to have the pt perform the
instructing the the pt to say “ah” in
“valsalva” maneuver which require
short bursts in a normal
that both nostrils be held firmly
unexaggerated fashion thus
while the pt exhales gently through
vibrating the soft palate
the nose
CLASSIFICATION OF SOFT PALATE
Class I :
It indicate soft palate that is
rather Horizontal as a extend
posteriorly with minimum
muscular activity. There is
considerable separation
between anterior & posterior
vibrating line does having
white PPS area yielding more
retentive denture base.
Class III :
I it is seen in conjugation with
high V shape palatal vault.
There is few mm separation
of anterior & posterior
vibrating line thus there is
small PPS area & less
retention.
Class II :
lie between classI & classIII.
Techniques of making PPS
1- conventional( mechanical or scraping ):
A- at the final impression stage.
B- at the jaw relation or try-in stages.
2- physiological posterior border seal .
3- arbitrary scraping of the Master cast.
Conventional technique
1- complete the final maxillary impression.
2- rinse the mouth with zinc chloride mouth
wash ,dry the pp area.
3- palpate distal to the tuberosity on one side
until the hamular notch is located by means of a
T- burnisher.
T-burnisher
4- the hamular notch is marked by a line placed
with an indelible pencil ,extending 3-4 mm
antero-lateral to the tuberosity.
5- locate ( PVL) by having the pt say “ah” in short
bursts while the pt mouth is open, draw a line
on the soft palate.
6- locate ( AVL) indicate the area of displaceable
tissue by drawing an anterior line which is 5 or 6
mm anterior to the posterior line .in the midline
where displaceable tissue is seldom the distance
should be 2 to 3 mm.
7- dry the impression and reinsert it into the
mouth .the ink marks should transfer to the
impression.
8- freshen the ink marks on the impression with
indelible pencil this is going to transfer to stone
master cast ,bead , box then pour the
impression.
9- prepare a posterior bead line on the master
cast to a depth of 1 – 1.5 mm . the bead line
should extend bilaterally through the hamular
notches.
indelible
pencil
https://youtu.be/hUeBfxaoLQE
Physiological posterior border seal
(fluid wax) tech:
• requires the use of mouth temp. wax, applied
to maxillary final impression. After marking
both (AVL &PVL) in the pt mouth.
• The impression is then reinserted in the pt
mouth for functional of physiological molding
of the fluid wax.
Arbitrary scraping of master cast
• This tech is the least accurate and leave the
most to chance at the insertion appointment.
• It relies on the dentist recollection of palatal
configuration and tissue compressibility.
• The (AVL &PVL) and the depth to which the
cast should be scraped .
• This tech un physiologically correct.
Problems in PPS
Deficiency in depth or length or both. Which
will make the denture exhibit generalized lack of
retention .
How to check adequate valve seal :
1- placing an index finger on the canine and
pressing upwards .resistance to dislodgment is
checked at the seal area of the opposite side .
2- apply stick compound to the area of the PPS
If the retention improves ,this indicates that the
postdam is at fault.
Green stick
compound
I gave a denture to pt
without posTdam??!!
Techniques to adding a PPS to an existing
denture
1- direct application of auto polymerizing
acrylic resin:
• When the error is minimal .
• APAR applied directly to the existing post dam
&the denture placed back in the mouth.
2- light – cured resin:
This material allows for accurate placement of
the seal . Curing in stages which requires the use
of high intensity white light.
• Once the cast has set ,the denture is separated and the
cast painted with alginate separating medium.
• The denture is cleaned and roughened for application
auto polymerizing acrylic resin.
• Lubricant is applied to the unground areas including
polish surface.
• The acrylic resin is applied In thin soupy mix to ensure
flow and minimize porosity.
• The cast and the denture held firmly with rubber bands
in a pressure pot with worm water at 30 PSI for 20 min .
the excess acrylic is trimmed and the PPS slightly
polished.
4- impression compound : same 3.
3- mouth temperature wax impression:
• Incorrectly placed post dam or a denture base
is under extended posteriorly.
• All the steps outlined for locating and marking
the PPS are first followed.
• Mouth temperature wax is added to the seal
area .after the wax had adequate chance to
flow .the denture removed from the mouth
Thank you
