Mandibular Tori
Pronunciation: man-DIB-yoo-ler TOR-eye
Benign bony exostoses located on the lingual surface of the mandible, commonly encountered during oral examination and noted in dental hygiene documentation.
Full Definition
Mandibular tori (singular: torus mandibularis) are smooth, bony protuberances arising from the lingual cortex of the mandible, typically bilateral and located in the premolar region. They are developmental rather than pathological, but their presence is significant for dental hygiene practice because they complicate instrument access during subgingival scaling and may interfere with prosthetic appliance fabrication. Editors will encounter this term in clinical notes, oral examination reports, and case studies. The singular form 'torus' is frequently incorrectly pluralised as 'toruses' — editors should enforce 'tori.' A related entity, 'torus palatinus,' occurs on the midline of the hard palate.
Usage
Usage note: Singular: torus mandibularis or mandibular torus. Plural: mandibular tori. Never 'toruses.' Distinguish from torus palatinus, which is found on the palate, not the mandible.
In Context
- "Bilateral mandibular tori were noted in the premolar region and documented as within normal variation for this patient." — Oral examination record
- "The case report used 'mandibular toruses' — the editor corrected the plural to 'mandibular tori.'" — Case report copy-edit