Posterior Palatal Seal

A Paper by :

Kamal Ashraf
ID : 2010/0105 Dentistry

Fall 2012

Outline
Thesis statement: One of the main characteristics of a good denture is retention. Post Damming or Posterior palatal seal is one of the ways to achieve retention. Posterior palatal seal area is the area of the soft tissue along the junction of hard and soft palates on which pressure within physiological limits of the tissiue can be applied by dentures to aid in retention. I. II. Introduction: Functions of post-damming: A) Increases retention of the denture by atmospheric pressure.

B) Prevents air and food from getting under the denture. C) Decreases reflex irritation and gag by: 1. Reducing the thickness if denture base conspicious to the tongue 2. Decrease Patient's awareness of this area

D) Compensates for dimensional changes.

E) During impression, it acts as a guide for positioning the tray and prevents sliding of the impression material into the pharynx III. Dimensions of post dam: A) Constructing butterfly shape: 1. Extends from hamular notch on 1 side to the other hamular notch. 2. Narrow at central part, wider as it extends laterally on each side, narrow again as it approaches hamular notch to fade behin the tuberosity. 3. Post dam should be wide: a) to avoid cutting or irritating the tissues ( 4mm wide ) 4. Depth or thickness should vary for different individuals ( 1mm average)

B) Width of posterior palatal seal depends on the curvature of soft palate. Soft palate is classified into 3 classes: 1. Class I i) gentle curvature ii) wide posterior seal iii) not very deep 2. Class III i) Acute angle ii) narrow and deep posterior palatal seal 3. Class II

i) lie between class 1 and class III

IV.

Method of post damming: A) Arbitary Scraping of master cast.

B) Fluid wax technique

C) Conventional method