Posterior palatal seal location and preparation on the

maxillary-complete denture cast

A. A. Calomeni, D.D.S., M.S.,* E. E. Feldmann, D.D.S.,** and
W. A. Kuebker, D.D.S., M.S.*+*
University of Texas, Dental School, San Antonio, Tex.

T he location and preparation of the posterior palatal

seal is a frequently neglected procedure. This seal
contributes significantly to the retention of a maxillary
complete denture. Its location and preparation on the
master cast are often done by the dentist or dental
laboratory technician without reference to the anatomic
landmarks of the mouth.
The purpose of the posterior palatal seal on a
maxillary complete denture is to (1) create a seal along
the posterior border of the denture at the junction of the
hard and soft palates (immovable and movable tissues)
to enhance retention of the maxillary denture; (2)
provide the dentist or laboratory technician a distinct
landmark for finishing the posterior border of the
denture; and (3) compensate for the volumetric shrink-
age of the acrylic resin in this area during pro- Fig. 1. Ladmore plugger in hamular notch. Arrow
cessing. points to hamular notch.
Preparation of the master cast to provide for a
posterior palatal seal on the maxillary complete den-
ture is the responsibility of the dentist, not the dental
laboratory technician. In this article the posterior
palatal seal is located precisely in the mouth by the
dentist. Regions of displaceable and nondisplaceable
tissue are determined by palpation with a blunt instru-
ment, and the location of the posterior palatal seal is
accurately transferred to the cast and prepared to
the depth determined by the displaceability of the
tissues.

PROCEDURE
1. Complete the final maxillary impression.
2. Rinse the mouth with a zinc chloride-type
mouthwash. Dry the posterior palatal area and hamu-
lar notches with a 2 inch X 2 inch gauze sponge. Fig. 2. Ink is applied to Ladmore plugger with an ink
3. Palpate the area distal to the tuberosity on one pencil.
side until the hamular notch is located by means of a
Ladmore plugger No. 3 or similar instrument
(Fig. 1).
*Professor and Head, Division of Complete Dentures, Department
of Prosthodontics. 4. Mark the Ladmore plugger with an ink pencil
**Professor and Chairman, Department of Prosthodontics. (Stabilo Ink Pencil, Texas Art Co., Houston, Tex.) or
***Associate Professor,Department of Prosthodontics. color applicator stick (“Dr. Thompson’s” Sanitary

628 MAY 1983 VOLUME 49 NUMBER 5

POSTERIOR PAL.ATAL SEA1

Fig. 3. Ink line indicating vibrating line and termi- Fig. 5. Ink lines transferred from palate to im-
nating in hamular notches. pression.

Fig. 4. Anterior line (arrows) indicates area of dis-

placeable tissue to be covered by posterior palatal
seal. Fig. 6. Ink lines accentuated with an ink pencil.

Color Transfer Applicators, Great Plains Dental

Products, Cunningham, Kan.) (Fig. 2).
5. Place the Ladmore plugger in the hamular notch,
leaving an ink mark on the tissues.
6. Mark the location of the other hamular notch in
the same manner.
7. Locate the vibrating line by having the patient
say “ah” in short bursts while the patient’s mouth is
open. Draw a line on the soft palate corresponding to
the vibrating line (junction of immovable and movable
palates) with the ink pencil or color applicator stick.
Extend this line to connect with the ink marks in the
hamular notches. The vibrating line is usually located
at or near the fovea palatinae (Fig. 3).
8. Palpate the extent of the soft displaceable tissue
anterior to the vibrating line with a Ladmore plugger. Fig. 7. Ink lines transferred from impression to
Indicate the area of displaceable tissue by drawing an master cast.

THE JOURNAL OF PROSTH~IC DENTISTRY 629


Fig. 8. Posterior palatal seal prepared on master
cast.
anterior line on the palate with an ink pencil or color
applicator stick (Fig. 4). The anterior line should not
be placed more than 5 or 6 mm anterior to the posterior
line even though the tissues are displaceable farther
anteriorly. In the midline, where displaceable tissue is
seldom encountered, the distance between the anterior
and posterior lines should usually be about 2 to 3 mm.
The posterior palatal seal area must not cover hard or
nondisplaceable soft tissue.
9. Dry the impression and carefully insert it into the
mouth. The ink marks should transfer to the impres-
sion (Fig. 5).
10. Freshen the ink marks on the impression with
the ink pencil or color applicator stick so that they will
readily transfer to the stone cast that is made from the
impression (Fig. 6). Do not rinse the impression.
11. Box the impression to preserve its borders. Pour
the cast using an improved artificial stone. Separate the
cast from the impression after the cast has set. The ink
marks drawn on the impression will be transferred to
the stone cast (Fig. 7).
630
CALOMENI, FELDMANN, AND KUEBKER
Fig. 9. A, Extent of posterior palatal seal. Note
decreasing depth anteriorly. B, Posterior bead line
prepared to depth of 1.5 mm. C, Zero depth at anterior
extent of seal.
12. Prepare a posterior bead line on the cast to a
depth of 1 to 1% mm. The bead line should extend
bilaterally through the hamular notches (Fig. 8).
13. Relieve the area between the anterior and poste-
rior lines with a scraper (Kingsley Scraper No. 1,
Buffalo Dental Mfg. Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.). The
depth the cast is scraped should vary from zero at the
anterior line to the depth of the bead line, 1 to 1% mm,
along the posterior border (Fig. 9). The cast should not
be scraped where the soft tissues are hard and nondis-
placeable.
SUMMARY
A technique for the precise location and preparation
of the posterior palatal seal on the master cast has been
described. The technique provides a distinct landmark,
which aids in finishing the posterior border of the
denture and creates a posterior palatal seal that is
physiologically acceptable to the patient because its
depth and extent are determined by the displaceability
of the tissues.
Reprint requests to:
DR. ALEXANDER A. CALOMENI
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
DENTAL SCHOLL
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78284
MAY 1983 VOLUME 49 NUMBER 5