Torus palatinus in a 13-year-old Spanish girl

Objectives: Torus Palatinus (TP) is a bony projection located on the oral surface of the hard palate. The trait is typically benign, has an unknown etiology, and varies widely in phenotypic expression. Prior studies suggest differences in TP prevalence by sex and ancestry, but the reported rates vary, even within a single ancestral group. We assessed the prevalence of TP and its association with palatal shape in a large multi-ethnic cohort of normal individuals. Methodology: 1102 adults were included (625 with European ancestry, 377 with West African anscestry, and 100 with East Asian ancestry). 3D digital dental casts were obtained and rated. TP frequencies were compared between sexes and/or ethnicities using Chi-squared tests. Dental cast models were then landmarked, and canonical variates analysis was performed to test for shape differences between those with and without TP. Results: Females had a significantly higher rate of TP than males across all three ancestral groups (p≤0.004). In males, no significant differences were found among ethnicities. Ancestral differences in TP frequency were driven by females, with East Asians having the highest rate (34.69%), followed by Europeans (24.88%) and West Africans (15.22%). Shape differences were found only in Asians and Africans, indicated a shorter and wider palate in presence of TP. Conclusions: Ethnic differences in TP frequency were present only in females. Further, females have considerably higher rates of TP than males in each population tested. Further studies of TP at earlier time-points and in connection to other aspects of craniofacial growth may shed light on these sex and ethnic differences.

Tori or exostoses are bony growths that appear in different oral regions. Torus palatinus, more specifically, develop in the palate midline and can impair proper word pronunciation and hinder the fabrication and use of dentures. Even though a multifactorial inheritance model has been suggested for torus palatinus appearance, precise genetic factors involved in its etiology remain unclear. Hence, in this study we aimed to identify variants across the genome of individuals from 46 Filipino families that associate with torus palatinus.

Radiopaque lesions and lesions of mixed density are less frequent than radiolucent lesions of the jawbones. They comprise a spectrum of odontogenic and non-odontogenic lesions. The latter group includes inherited and developmental disorders, osteomyelitis, and benign and malignant primary bone tumors and metastases. Most odontogenic radiopaque or mixed lesions are either related to the apex or more rarely to the crown of the tooth, although there are exceptions to this rule. Some lesions, such as a torus mandibularis and torus palatinus, have a characteristic location, whereas others show no relationship to the dentition. This article describes the most characteristic and prevalent radiopaque and mixed lesions of the jaws and their imaging characteristics. Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia, and rare sclerotic bone diseases of the maxillofacial bones are discussed elsewhere in this issue. Careful correlation of clinical presentation, panoramic radiographs, cone beam computed tomography, and histopathology are the cornerstones for appropriate lesion characterization.