Maxillary complete denture posterior palatal seal:

Variations in size, shape, and location

Roger D. Winland, Captain, USAF (DC),* and John M. Young,

Colonel, USAF (DC)**
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and Brooks AFB, Texas

A 11 dentists, except those who are strict advocates of the “mucostatic”

incorporate
principle,l
some type of posterior palatal seal into every maxillary complete denture
they design. Posterior palatal seals prevent the ingress of air which might unseat the
denture when the distal border is displaced downward.2 The,ultimate goal of pos-
terior palatal seals is retention. Retention of a denture is defined in the Glossary of
Prosthodontic Term? as, “That quality inherent in the denture which resists the
force of gravity, the adhesiveness of foods, and the forces associated with the open-
ing of the jaws.”
The mechanical principles of retention have been well documented in the litera-
ture. Fry4 discussed the factors that govern retention (adhesion, cohesion, and
gravity) and their relationship with the adaptation and maximum area covered by
the palate over the mucous membrane. In 1926, Cox5 reported his experiments on
cohesion and adhesion, surface tension, capillary action, and viscosity of saliva. His
concept of retention was, “The force holding the denture in position is the reduction
of the pressure in the saliva between the denture and jaws below that of the atmo-
sphere.” Pryor’s work on the physical forces or phenomena utilized in the retention
of dentures is outstanding. These forces (adhesion by contact, leverage, balanced
occlusion, atmospheric pressure, and gravity) are our basis of not only retention but
stability, the quality of a denture to resist displacement by functional stresses.3 Pryor
stated, “The lack of proper extension and post-damming in the upper denture causes
too great a percentage of failures, even though contact adhesion is much stronger
here than in the lower denture.” He re-emphasized a rule of stability quoted by
Wilson,7 which states that all the foundation area possible should be used so long
as the base does not interfere with normal muscle function. Skinner and associates8
concluded by their experiments that the “post-dam” was more effective in increasing

*General Dentist, USAF Hospital, Elmendorf ABF, APO Seattle.

**Chief, Clinical Dentistry Function, Dental Sciences Branch, School of Aerospace Medi-
cine, Brooks AFB, Texas.
256
Volume 29
Number 3
Posterior palatal seal 257

retention in certain areas than was the peripheral seal, but both increased retention
whether they were used singly or together.
Before a posterior palatal seal can be constructed and properly placed, the
anatomy of the area has to be well known. Such men as Edwards and Boucher!’
and Pendleton1+12 have studied and documented well the general and minute
anatomy of this area. Zack and Appleby I3 in their study of the hamular notch have
concentrated their efforts to specific areas of the posterior palatal anatomy. Laney
and Gonzalez*” discussed the need for knowledge of the oral cavity’s anatomy so
that the static surface of the denture base can be balanced against one dynamic
tissue surface. In the posterior palatal seal area, the tissues are displaceable, and the
degree of displacement can be found by palpation with a “T” b&nisher’” by closing
both nostrils of the patient and having him blow gentlyI or by visualizing the vibrat-
ing line as the patient says “ah.“17 Also, by placing the tissues with various im-
pression materials, a functional or physiologic posterior palatal seal can be made
as early as the maxillary final impression. I8 Another method, scraping the maxillary
cast before final processing of the denture, can be used to construct a posterior
palatal seal. I9 Therefore, the posterior palatal seal takes on many various shapes.
sizes, and locations.
In this article, these various types of posterior palatal seals are discussed, and
their construction as taught in our dental schools is investigated.

METHOD
A questionnaire (Fig. 1) was sent to the chairmen of the Complete Denture
Prosthodontic Departments of 53 dental schools in the United States and Puerto
Rico. The questions were so designed that the chairmen could either complete the
form rapidly by checking the appropriate items or elaborate fully on their philosophy
of posterior palatal seal construction for maxillary complete dentures.
Of the 53 chairmen, 47 completed the questionnaires and returned them. Many
of the chairmen took time to describe in detail their procedures of posterior palatal
seal construction. We thank all of them for their time and effort.

RESULTS
The data are tabulated for each question.
Question 1. Name the textbook(s) used in your undergraduate complete pros-
thodontic courses.
Schools
Boucher, C. 0.: Swenson’s Complete Dentures, ed. 5, St. Louis, 1964, 23
The C. V. Mosby Company.
Heartwell, C. M., Jr.: Syllabus of Complete Dentures, ed. 7, Philadelphia, 1968, 14
Lea & Febiger, Publishers.
Sharry, J. J.: Complete Denture Prosthodontics, ed. 1, New York, 1962, 14
McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.
Nagle, R. J., and Sears, V. H.: Denture Prosthetics, ed. 2, St. Louis, 1962, 3
The C. V. Mosby Company.
Morstad, A. T., Hayes, C. K., and Petersen, A. D.: Complete Denture Prosthesis, 1
Minneapolis, 1966, University of Minnesota Press.
Other laboratory manuals, technical manuals, and departmental clinical guides. 4
The total number of textbooks and manuals .is not the same as the number of schools,
because some schools reported using more than one textbook or manual in their courses.
 J. Prosthet. Dent.
258 Winland and Young March. 1973

1. Name of the textbook(s) used in your complete prosthodontic courses

2. The type of posterior palatal seal taught in your under graduate prosthodontic courses
(check one) :
a. Bead on the cast
b. Butterfly on the cast
c. Physiologic in final impression
d. Combination of the above
e. Other (explain)

3. Method of constructing posterior palatal seal in maxillary complete dentures (check one) :
a. Functional impression
b. Scrape the cast
c. Other (explain)

4. A brief drawing or sketch of your type of posterior palatal seal:

Fig. 1. Questionnaire.

Question 2. Which type of posterior palatal seal is taught in your undergraduate

prosthodontic courses?
Schools
-Bead on cast 9
Butterfly on cast 18
Physiologic in impression 10
Physiojogic and bead 10
Physiologic and butterfly 11
Some schools reported using more than one type of posterior palatal seal, depending upon
the anatomy of the mouth’s and the type of impression material used in the final impression.

Question 3. What is your method of constructing a posterior palatal seal in

maxillary complete dentures?
Schools
Functional impression 10
Scrape cast 20
Combination 17

Question 4. Enclose a brief drawing or sketch of your type of posterior palatal

seal.
Basically the chairmen reported six configurations of their posterior palatal seal,
regardless of whether it was constructed with a functional impression or scraped on
the cast before final processing. The two dots on the casts represent the location of
the fovea palatini.
1. Fig. 2: Bead scraped on cast. Also can be cut with No. 6 round bur.
2. Fig. 3: Double bead scraped on cast.
3. Fig. 4: Butterfly either scraped on cast or constructed by functional impression.
4. Fig. 5: Butterfly with bead on distal edge of denture.
 Posterior palatal seal 259

Fig. 2. A bead posterior palatal seal extending through the hamular notches.
Fig. 3. A double bead posterior palatal seal. The posterior bead is located on the posterior limit
trf the denture.
Fig. 4. A butterfly posterior palatal seal. The width and depth of the butterfly depend upr~11
the amount of displacement the tissues demonstrate.
Fig. 5. A butterfly posterior palatal seal with a bead on the posterior limit of the denture.
Fig. 6. A butterfly posterior palatal seal with the hamular notch area cut to half the depth
of a No. 9 round bur.
Fig. 7. Posterior palatal seals constructed in reference to House’s classification of palatal form..

5. Fig. 6: Butterfly with widened posterior palatal seal in each hamular notch region
with No. 9 round bur.
6. Fig. 7: Posterior palatal seals constructed in reference to House’sIs classification of
palatal form.
Class I: Modified butterfly approximately 3 to 4 mm. wide.
Class II: Modified butterfly approximately 2 to 3 mm. wide.
Class III: A bead.
7. Fig. 8: Cross-sectional views of various posterior palatal seals.
 J. Prosthet. Dent.
260 Winland and Young March, 1973

C. D.
Fig. 8. Cross-sectional views of various posterior palatal seals: (A) bead, (B) double bead,
(C) butterfly, and (D) butterfly with bead.

DISCUSSION
The selection of a textbook for undergraduate prosthodontic courses is im-
portant. As shown by the questionnaire, most schools use Swenson’s Complete Den-
tures edited by Boucher. 2o This textbook offers the students a sound basis for denture
construction. Another’ textbook, Syllabus of Complete Dentures, by HeartwelPe is
rapidly becoming popular. It has many up-to-date chapters on patient education,
oral examination, articulators, and complete denture problems.
The construction of a posterior palatal seal varied greatly and was developed as
early as the final maxillary impression or as late as final processing of the denture.
During final impressions, modeling compound is predominantly used to functionally
place the soft glandular tissues in the posterior palatal seal area. The outline of the
posterior palatal seal region of the denture varies with this placeability of the tissues
along the vibrating line. 21 Also, the type of impression material used can dictate the
type of posterior palatal seal. For example, some teach the use of a functional im-
~Jression type of posterior palatal seal with the use of a paste wash or wax. Others
teach a scraped cast type with rubber-base or silicone impressions.22 Vintonz3 stated,
“Where the tissues move in normal function is the area where maximum peripheral
seal can be achieved with the least amount of tissue displacement. This appears to
be best physiologically. It is maximum result with minimum activity.”
No matter what type of posterior palatal seal is used, the important word is
seal-to seal out air and food and to seal in partial pressure. Everyone agrees with
Porter’s2 statement “The determination of the posterior limit and palatal seal of
the maxillary denture is not the technician’s obligation, but the responsibility of the
dentist.”

References
1. Page, H. L.: Mucostatics-a Practical Comparison, TIC, Ticonium Division, CMP
Industries Inc., Albany, N. Y., April, 1947.
2. Porter, R. B.: Evaluation of a Delegated Procedure: Posterior Border of the Maxillary
Denture, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 81: 134-136, 1970.
3 Boucher, C. O., Hickey, J. C., and Hughes, G. A.: Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms, ed.
3, St. Louis, 1968, The C. V. Mosby Company.
 Posterior palatal seal 261

4. Fry, W. K.: The Retention of Complete Dentures, Br. Dent. J. 44: 97-106, 1923.
5. Cox, A. M.: A Consideration of the Fundamental Physical Principles Involved in the
Retention of Artificial Dentures, Br. Dent. J. 47: 1058-1070, 1926.
6. Pryor, W. L.: The Physical Forces or Phenomena Utilized in the Retention of Dentures.
J. Am. Coll. Dent. 12: 125-133, 1945.
7. Wilson, G. H.: Dental Prosthesis, ed. 4, Philadelphia, 1916, Lea & Febiger, Publishers.
8. Skinner, E. W., Campbell, R. L., and Chung, P.: A Clinical Study of the Forces Re-
quired to Dislodge Maxillary Denture Bases of Various Designs, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 47:
671-680, 1953.
9. Edwards, L. F., and Boucher, C. 0.: Anatomy of the Mouth in Relation to Complete
Dentures, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 29: 331-345, 1942.
10. Pendleton, E. C.: The Minute Anatomy of the Denture Bearing Area, J. Am. Dent. Assoc.
21: 488-506, 1934.
11, Pendleton, E. C.: Influence of Biologic Factors in Retention of Artificial Dentures, J. .4m.
Dent. Assoc. 23: 1233-1251 ,1936.
12. Pendleton, E. C.: Anatomy of the Face and Mouth From the Standpoint of the Denture
Prosthetist, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 33: 219-234, 1946.
13. Zack, G., and Appleby, R. C.: Importance of the Hamular Notch in Denture Construc-
tion, Iowa Dent. J. 52: 26-27, 1966.
14. Laney, W. R., and Gonzalez, J. B.: The Maxillary Denture: Its Palatal Relief and Posterior
Palatal Seal, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 75: 1182-l 187, 1967.
15. Bylicky, H. S.: Variable Approaches in Obtaining a Posterior Palatal Seal: Description of
Technique, N. Y. J. Dent. 36: 280-282, 1966.
16. Heartwell, C. M., Jr.: Syllabus of Complete Dentures, ed. 1, Philadelphia, 1968, Lea &
Febiger, Publishers.
17. Hardy, I. R., and Kapur, K. K.: Posterior Border Seal: Its Rationale and Importance, J.
PROSTHET. DENT. 8: 386-397, 1958.
18. House, M. M.: Full Denture Technique, Study Club No. 1, 1950.
19. Stephens, A. P.: Upper Full Denture Retention, J. Irish Dent. Assoc. 14: 131-132, 1968.
20. Boucher, C. 0.: Swenson’s Complete Dentures, ed. 5, St. Louis, 1964, The C. V. Mosby
Company.
2 1. Henderson, D.: Posterior Palatal Seal, Personal communication, 197 1.
22. Smith, W. G.: The Posterior Palatal Seal Area in Complete Denture Construction, S. C.
Dent. J. 28: 6-8, 1970.
23. Vinton, P. W.: Posterior Palatal Seal, Personal communication, 1971.

CAPTAIN WINLAND
USAF HOSPITAL
APO SEATTLE 98742

COLONEL YOUNG
326 DARTMOOR DR.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78227