10. Define Posterior Palatal Seal.

Discuss in detail boundaries and methods of recording it for a complete denture patient Definition Posterior palatal seal is the soft tissue area at or beyond the junction of the hard and soft palates on which pressure, within physiologic limits, can be applied by a denture to aid in its retention. Boundaries Determination of vibrating lines and adding of posterior palatal seal is observed as an important steps in retention of maxillary dentures Vibrating lines lies at the junction of soft palate and the hard palate Soft palate is a movable, muscular fold, suspended from the posterior border of the hard palate. It separates the nasopharynx from oropharynx Vibrating lines are imaginary lines across the posterior part of the palate, marking the division between the movable and immovable tissues of soft palate. This can be identified when the movable tissues are in function The anatomic structures the help in recording of these vibrating lines are palatine aponeurosis, hamular process, median palatal raphe, fovea palatine Posterior palatal seal: it is a seal area at the posterior border of maxillary denture. It can be divided into 2 areas pterygomaxillary seal, Post palatal seal Pterygomaxi l lary: seal extends through pterygomaxillary notch continuing 3-4mm anterolaterally, approximating the mucogingival junction. It occupies entire width of hamular notch (loose connective tissue lying between pterygoid hamulus of the sphenoid bone and distal portion of maxillary tuberosity). The notch is covered by pterygomaxillary fold (extend from posterior aspect of tuberosity to pad). This fold influences the posterior border seal if mouth is wide open during final impression procedure Post palatal seal: is an area between anterior and posterior vibrating line found medially from one tuberosity to other. It appears to be a cupids bow Vibrating lines: These are imaginary lines which delineate the PPS. There are two vibrating lines - Anterior vibrating line - Posterior vibrating line ANTERIOR VIBRATING LINE: It demarcates zone of transition between no movement of the tissue overlying hard palate and some movement of the

tissue of the soft palate. It serves as an anterior border of PP'S. It extends laterally into pterygomaxillary notch . It always occurs in soft palate. Methods of eliciting anterior vibrating line:Valsalva manouevre ask patient to blow air gently through nose with nostrils closed with fingers. Ask patient to say 'ah' with short vigourous bursts. POSTERIOR VIBRATING LINE:- Imaginary line at the junction of the aponeurosis of the tensor veli palatini muscle and the muscular portion of the soft palate. It demarcates the part of soft palate that has limited /shallow movement during function (quivers) and the remainder of soft palate that is markedly displaced during functional movements. It is elicited by asking the patient to say 'ah' in short bursts in a normal, unexaggerated fashion. Posterior vibrating line marks the most distal extension of denture base.

RATIONALE AND IMPORTANCE OF POSTERIOR 4 PALATAL SEAL Addition of PPS transforms a base with adhesive retention into very stable base with resistance to horizontal forces. It forms a partial vacuum when subjected to force and enhance retention and stability. The partial vacuum created does not damage oral structures and lasts for a very short duration. Care should be taken not to give excessive border seal as it occurs with over scrapping .Adequate distal extension of denture base within physiologic limit helps in increasing surface area coverage. IMPORTANCE AND FUNCTIONS OF PPS 1. It maintains contact of denture with soft tissue during functional movements of stomatognathic system, by which it decreases gag reflex. 2. Decreases food accumulation with adequate tissue compressibility. 3. Decrease patient discomfort of tongue with posterior part of denture. 4. Compensation of volumetric shrinkage that occurs during the polymerization of PMMA 5. Increases retention and stability by creating partial vacuum. 6. Increased strength of maxillary denture base.