Posterior Palatal Seal

Definitions –
Posterior palatal seal –
• The soft tissue along the junction of hard and soft palates on which pressure
within physiologic limits can be applied by the complete removable dental prosthesis
to aid in the retention of the denture.

Vibrating lines –

• Imaginary line across the posterior part of the palate marking the division between
the movable and immovable tissues of the soft palate; this can be identified when
the movable tissues are functioning
• There are 2 vibrating lines, the anterior vibrating line, and the posterior vibrating
line
• The posterior palatal seal area lies between these 2 lines
Clinical importance of PPS –
• Maintain contact with the tissues of the anterior part of the soft palate
• Establishes a border seal
• Helps in retention of the maxillary denture
• Reduces the gag reflex of the patient
• Prevents accumulation of food in between the posterior part of the denture and
the soft palate

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 • Reduces patient discomfort when wearing the denture

Anterior vibrating line –

• Imaginary line at the junction of the attached tissue overlying the hard palate and
the immediate movable tissue of the soft palate
• It is always on soft palate
• Takes the shape of a cupid’s bow
• Can be located by asking the patient to perform the Valsalva manoeuvre
• During this process, the soft palate gets placed inferiorly at the junction of the
hard and soft palate
• The junction can then be marked with an indelible pencil
• It can also be visualized by asking the patient to say ‘ah’ forcefully in short bursts

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Posterior vibrating line –
• Imaginary line at the junction of the aponeurosis of the tensor veli palatini muscle
and the musculature of the soft palate
• It is the demarcation between the part of the soft palate that has limited
movement during function and the remainder of the soft palate that is markedly
displaced during function
• It is a slightly curved line. It is located by asking the patient to say ‘ah’ in a normal,
unexaggerated way in short bursts
• This line marks the distal most extension of the denture base

Classification of Soft Palate –

• Based on the angle the soft palate makes with the hard palate, it can be classified
into 3 classes
Class 1 –
• Soft palate is almost horizontal as it extends posteriorly
• Less muscle displacement is required for velopharyngeal closure, which is the
closure of the nasopharynx during swallowing
• Posterior palatal seal area will be wide and shallow in such cases

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 • Class 1 soft palates give the most effective posterior palatal seal and provide the
best retention
Class 3 –
• Soft palate is at an acute angle to the hard palate
• Maximum amount of muscle displacement for velopharyngeal closure
• Usually seen in patients with a high V shaped palatal vault
• It has a smaller area for the posterior palatal seal as compared to class 1, but the
depth is more
Class 2 –
• Angle of the soft palate is slightly acute to the hard palate
• It is in between class 1 and class 3

Methods of recording PPS –

• Scraping of the cast
• Fluid wax method
Functional scraping of cast –
• Done on the trial denture base which is made on the master cast
• The patient is asked to sit upright
• Posterior palatal area is wiped with gauze and the hamular notches are located by
using a mouth mirror or T burnisher
• Hamular notches are connected by a line marked with an indelible pencil
• Posterior vibrating line is visualised and marked
• Both these lines are now connected to establish the posterior border of the
denture

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• Trial denture base is inserted in the mouth and the markings are transferred onto
it
• Trial base is then trimmed till the posterior border and placed on the master cast
to transfer the border
• The patient is asked to do the Valsalva manoeuvre and the anterior vibrating line is
similarly marked and transferred to the denture base, and then to the master
cast
• On the master cast, the deepest area of the posterior seal is located on either side
of the midline, one-third the distance ahead of the posterior vibrating line
• This area is scraped to a depth of 1-1.5 mm. In the region of the mid-palatine raphe,
it should be only 0.5–1 mm in depth
• As the seal approaches the anterior vibrating line there is just a slight scraping of
the cast
• This creates a taper
• The area just posterior to the deepest portion of the seal is also tapered to the
posterior vibrating line
• Failure to taper the seal posteriorly may lead to tissue irritation
• Once scraping is done, the denture base is re-adapted to the master cast and then
placed in the patient’s mouth to check for fit
• The patient is asked to say ‘ah’ in short bursts in a normal manner
• Presence of a space between the record base and the soft tissues indicates that
the depth of the scraping should be increased
• The procedure is repeated until no space exists
• The advantages of the functional scraping technique are that the trial base has
increased retention, thereby increasing the accuracy of the jaw relation procedure
• Patient can experience and is aware of the retention and fit expected from the
final denture
• The disadvantage is that it is technique sensitive

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Fluid wax technique –
• Any wax that is designed to flow at mouth temperature can be used
• The seal is established after making final impressions but before pouring the
master cast
• ZnOE and impression plaster are suitable impression materials for this technique
as fluid wax adheres well to them
• Anterior and posterior vibrating lines are marked in the mouth using the same
methods as the functional scraping technique and then transferred to the final
impression
• Final impression is then painted with fluid wax within the marked seal area
• Usually, excess wax is applied and cooled below mouth temperature so that it gains
resistance to flow
• This allows it to soften at mouth temperature and flow intraorally during
impression making
• The patient’s head should be positioned such that the Frankfort’s horizontal plane
is 30° below the horizontal plane
• It is only at this position that the soft palate is at its maximal downward and
forward functional position
• Flexion of the head also helps to prevent excess impression material and saliva
from moving down the throat
• The patient is also asked to keep his tongue against the mandibular anterior teeth

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 • Impression tray is inserted in the mouth and the patient is asked to periodically
rotate the head while maintaining the 30° so that all functional movements of the
soft palate are recorded
• Impression is removed after 4–6 mins and examined
• Glossy areas show tissue contact and dull areas represent lack of contact
• Wax extending beyond the posterior vibrating line should be cut with a hot knife
• Wax is added to areas that appear dull, and the procedure is repeated till the
appropriate seal is achieved

Under-extension –
• Most common cause for posterior palatal seal failure
• It can happen due to using fovea palatine as the limit for posterior denture
extension
• Can also occur due to gag reflex of the patient
• Incorrect marking of the anterior and posterior vibrating lines will cause under-
extension

Over-extension –
• Leads to ulceration and pain during swallowing
• Covering of the hamular process can also lead to sharp pain in the region
• Overextended areas should be trimmed and smoothened out

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References –
• Winkler, S. (2000). Essentials of complete denture prosthodontics. Edited by
Sheldon Winkler. Philadelphia; London etc: Saunders.
• Prosthodontic treatment for edentulous patients: Complete dentures and implant-
supported prostheses. (2013). St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Mosby.
• Nallaswamy, D. (2017). Textbook of prosthodontics.

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