TORI REMOVAL

Treating Tori in Valencia, CA

At Go Dental, our dentists are trained in tori removal surgery to prepare you for dental implants or to help you feel more comfortable. Tori are relatively rare, they are not harmful and they grow very slowly.

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A torus is a bony piece of bone on the mouth. Patients report that tori can get in the way, leading to possible oral hygiene complications. Tori must also be removed before placing any dental appliances and can irritate or interfere with existing dental appliances.

Types Of Tori

Tori can grow on both the upper and lower palate. There are three types of tori, identified based on their location in the mouth.

  • Mandibular tori – Mandibular tori, or torus mandibularis, occur on the lower jaw, under the tongue.

  • Maxillary tori – Also called palatal tori or torus palatinus, these tori grow on the center of the upper jaw.

  • Buccal exostoses – The rarest type of tori, buccal exostosis tori occur on the molars, touching the cheek.

WHO DEVELOPS TORI

There are a variety of factors linked to developing a tori, however, the exact cause of tori are still largely unknown. You may be more at risk for developing a torus if:

You are male

Tori are more commonly seen in male patients.

Patients whose parents developed a torus are more likely to have one themselves.

Brusim, or grinding and clenching of the teeth, is also believed to cause tori.

WHEN TORI ARE REMOVED

Because tori present as asymptomatic, there may be no reason to remove them. However, there are several instances in which removing a torus is necessary.

Prepare for dental implants

This is the main reason we remove tori at Go Dental in Valencia, CA. A torus and dental implant can rub against each other, causing general discomfort.

Multiple tori can grow and rub together, causing irritation.

Food particles collecting under a torus can cause a host of dental issues.

WHAT TO EXPECT

At Go Dental, your comfort is important to us. Prior to your surgery, your dentist will review the tori removal procedure with you. This is the time to ask any questions and make sure that you understand the specifics of your care, leading up to and following the procedure.

At your surgery appointment, our dental team will make sure that you feel at ease before applying a local anesthetic. In some cases, your dentist may recommend going under general anesthesia to remove tori. With the patient under general anesthesia or the area numbed, tori is then removed with either a drill or a laser. The laser removal technique is generally less invasive, more precise and less painful than the drill method of tori removal. Your dentist will help determine the best method of removal based on the torus and your needs.

Following tori removal procedure, you may experience slight pain and swelling. Aftercare will look different depending on the type of anesthesia used, the method of removal and other factors. Your dentist will provide you with detailed instructions on tori removal aftercare, which may include the use of pain medication to relieve discomfort.