Dental Medicine and Orthodontics

Palatal tori are common among Asian and Eskimo. It is a slowly growing, flat-based bony protuberance or excrescence which occurs in the midline of the hard palate. Palatal tori have a high prevalence rate among Malaysian. Torus palatines’ can initially be as small as less than 2 cm in diameter. Throughout life it can slowly increase in size sometimes to the extent of filling the entire palatal vault. Studies have shown that tongue thrust is one of the oral habits which lead to anterior open bite and posterior crossbite. In this context, it is hypothesized that palatal tori may be associated with tongue thrusting. The basis of considering torus palatinus contributing to tongue thrusting habit is that the presence of torus palatinus may act as mechanical restrictions for positioning and movement of tongue. Consequently, the tongue will try to compensate by either being placed further anteriorly against the maxillary incisors leading to open bite, or it might rest inferiorly close to the floor of the mouth, disturbing the buccinator mechanism leading to crossbite. Hence, palatal tori could be associated with various kind of malocclusion, predominantly being the open bite. This is a study to evaluate its possible association with the various types of malocclusion.