Removing Extra Jawbone When It Causes Problems
Tori are benign bony growths that can develop in the mouth. They are not cancer, and they are usually not dangerous. Many people have tori for years without ever needing treatment.
However, in some cases, tori can become large, uncomfortable, or difficult to work around. They may interfere with eating, speaking, dental cleanings, dentures, partial dentures, or other dental treatment. When that happens, removal may be recommended.
At Schiffman Oral Surgery, Dr. Leonard Schiffman and Dr. Michael Schiffman perform tori removal in a comfortable oral surgery setting for patients throughout Woodmere, the Five Towns, Nassau County, Queens, and surrounding Long Island communities.
What are Tori?
Tori are extra areas of bone that grow slowly in the mouth. They are covered by normal gum tissue and usually feel hard and smooth.
The two most common types are:
Mandibular tori
These occur on the inside of the lower jaw, usually near the tongue and often on both sides.
Palatal tori
These occur on the roof of the mouth, usually along the middle of the palate.
Tori are generally harmless and often do not need to be removed unless they are causing symptoms or interfering with dental care.
Why would Tori need to be removed?
Many tori are simply monitored. If they are small, painless, and not creating any problems, treatment may not be necessary.
Tori removal may be recommended when they:
- Interfere with dentures, partial dentures, or other dental appliances
- Make it difficult to take dental impressions or scans
- Trap food or make oral hygiene more difficult
- Become repeatedly irritated or ulcerated
- Cause discomfort while eating or speaking
- Make the tongue feel crowded
- Interfere with planned dental or oral surgery treatment
- Are large enough to be bothersome or traumatic
For some patients, tori are removed before making a denture or partial denture so the appliance can fit more comfortably and securely.
“Are Tori dangerous?”
In most cases, no.
Tori are benign bony growths and are not the same as a tumor or cancer. They often grow very slowly and may remain stable for long periods of time.
That said, any new growth, changing area, sore spot, or unusual finding in the mouth should be evaluated. During your consultation, we will examine the area and review whether the appearance is consistent with tori or whether any additional evaluation is needed.
How We Evaluate Tori
Evaluation usually starts with a clinical examination. Tori often have a very characteristic appearance and feel, so they can usually be diagnosed by examining the mouth.
In some cases, a 3D CBCT scan may be recommended to better understand the size, shape, and position of the bone. This may be especially helpful if the tori are large, if removal is being planned, or if nearby anatomy needs to be evaluated.
We will also discuss why removal is being considered. The decision to remove tori is usually based on symptoms, appliance fit, hygiene, repeated irritation, or the need to prepare for other dental treatment.
What Happens During Tori Removal?
Tori removal is performed in our comfortable oral surgery office in Woodmere, NY.
First, we make sure the area is completely numb. Depending on the size and location of the tori, your medical history, and your comfort level, the procedure may be performed with local anesthesia, laughing gas, IV sedation, or a combination of these options.
During the procedure, the gum tissue over the bony growth is gently opened. The extra bone is then carefully reduced and smoothed. Once the area has the proper shape and contour, the gum tissue is repositioned and closed with stitches.
The goal is to remove or reshape the extra bone while leaving the area smooth, comfortable, and easier to clean or restore.
What is recovery like?
Recovery after tori removal depends on the size and location of the tori and how much bone needs to be reshaped.
Some soreness, swelling, and mild bleeding are normal for the first few days. Because tori are often located near the tongue or on the roof of the mouth, the area may feel tender while eating, speaking, or swallowing during the early healing period.
After tori removal, we may recommend:
- Soft foods for the first few days
- Avoiding sharp, crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods
- Avoiding smoking or vaping
- Using warm salt water rinses when instructed
- Keeping the area clean
- Taking medications exactly as prescribed
- Avoiding trauma to the surgical area
We will give you detailed post-operative instructions based on your specific procedure.
How long does healing take?
Most patients feel significantly better within several days, but the gum tissue takes longer to fully heal.
If tori are removed to help with a denture, partial denture, or other appliance, your dentist may need to wait until the tissue has healed and the swelling has resolved before making final impressions or adjustments.
We will coordinate timing with your dentist when tori removal is part of a larger dental treatment plan.
Will Tori come back?
Tori usually grow slowly, and recurrence after removal is uncommon, but it can happen over time.
If tori do return, they typically grow gradually. Most patients do not need repeat treatment unless the bone becomes bothersome again or interferes with dental care.
Why choose Schiffman Oral Surgery?
Tori removal requires careful technique because the gum tissue over tori can be thin, and the areas are often close to the tongue, palate, or other sensitive structures.
At Schiffman Oral Surgery, we have extensive experience with oral surgery procedures involving the jawbone and soft tissues of the mouth. We focus on careful planning, patient comfort, and smooth healing.
We will explain whether removal is necessary, what the procedure involves, and how it fits into your overall dental plan.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have mandibular tori, palatal tori, or extra bone in the mouth that is causing discomfort or interfering with dental treatment, call 516-569-1111 to schedule a consultation. You will be examined in our state of the art private office in Woodmere, NY and a custom, personalized treatment plan will be tailored to suit your specific desires and needs.
Dr. Leonard Schiffman and Dr. Michael Schiffman offer oral surgery services to the Five Towns in Long Island, New York and surrounding towns on the South Shore of Nassau County including Woodmere NY • Hewlett NY • Cedarhurst NY • Valley Stream NY • Woodsburgh NY • Lawrence NY • Inwood NY • Far Rockaway NY • Lynbrook NY • Oceanside NY • Rockville Centre NY
