Landmarks of Maxilla

Intra Oral Landmarks:
the Maxilla
Dr Azal Hadi
Anatomical Landmarks in the Maxilla
The anatomical landmarks in the maxilla and
mandible are classified into three groups according
to their effect in the process of complete denture
construction:
Anatomical Landmarks in the Maxilla
1. Limiting structures: they determine and confine the
extent of the denture:
2. Relief areas: these areas resorb under constant load or
contain fragile structures within. The denture should be
designed such that the masticatory load is not
concentrated over these areas.
3. Supporting structures: primary and secondary stress
bearing areas.
Limiting structures in the Maxilla
1. Labial frenum:
1. Labial frenum:
It is a fold of mucous membrane extending from the
mucosal lining of the upper lip to the labial surface of
the residual ridge at the median line. The frenum may
be single or multiple; narrow or broad. It contains no
muscle fibers, but it is moved with muscles of lip, and
inserts in a vertical direction, which creates the
maxillary labial notch in the impression or denture.
1. Labial frenum:
Labial notch
2. Labial vestibule (sulcus):
2. Labial vestibule: It extends on both sides of the
labial frenum to the buccal frenum, bounded by

the upper lip and the residual ridge. The
reflection of the mucous membrane superiorly
determines the height of the vestibule.
2. Labial vestibule:
In the denture, the area that fills this space is

known as labial flange. It is very important to
record adequate depth/width of vestibule, flange
overextension causes instability/soreness and
proper contouring gives optimal esthetics.
2. Labial vestibule:
Labial flange
3. Buccal frenum:
3. Buccal frenum: A fold or folds of mucous
membrane varies in size and shape and

extends from the buccal mucous membrane
reflection area toward the slope or crest of
residual ridge. It contains no muscle fibers and
its direction is anteroposterior.
3. Buccal frenum: It produces the maxillary buccal
notch in the denture which must be broad

enough to accommodate the movement of
frenum which is affected by some of the facial
muscles as the orbicularis oris muscle pull it
forward while buccinator muscle pull it
backward.
3. Buccal frenum:
Buccal notch
4. Buccal vestibule (sulcus):
4. Buccal vestibule (sulcus): It is the space distal
to the buccal frenum to the hamular notch. It is

bounded laterally by the cheek and medially by
the residual ridge..
The area of the denture which fills this space is known

as buccal flange. The stability and retention of the
denture are greatly enhanced if the vestibule is
properly filled with the flange distally, so recording
adequate depth/width is very important and improper
extension causes instability/soreness.
Buccal flange
5. Hamular Notch:
5. Hamular Notch:
is a depression situated between the maxillary

tuberosity and the hamulus of the medial pterygoid
plate. It is soft area of loose connective tissue. The
tissues in this region can be safely displaced to
achieve the posterior palatal seal.
5. Hamular Notch:
The distolateral border of the denture base rests in

the hamular notch. The overextension of the
denture base beyond it may cause soreness, and
under extension may cause poor retention.
5. Hamular Notch:
6. Posterior palatal seal area: The soft tissue area
beyond the junction of the hard and soft

palates, on which pressure within physiological
limits can be applied by a complete denture to
aid in its retention.
6. Posterior palatal seal area:
6. Posterior palatal seal area:
Vibrating line (AH-line) It extends from one hamular
notch to the other, about (2 mm) in front of the fovea
palatina. This can be identified when the movable
tissues are functioning; when the individual says series
of short "AH" sounds. It is not well defined as a line,
therefore it is better to describe it as an area rather
than a line.
6. Posterior palatal seal
area:
In the denture, the posterior

border of the denture that
lies over vibrating line is
known as (post dam) to form
posterior seal
Relief Areas
1. Incisive papilla:
Relief Areas
It is a pad of fibrous connective tissue lies between

the two central incisors on the palatal side; it
overlies the incisive foramen of the nasopalatine
duct where the nasopalatine nerve and vessels
arises. In an edentulous mouth, it may lie close to
the crest of the residual ridge.
Relief Areas
Relief Areas
Relief over the incisive papilla should be provided

in denture to avoid any interference with blood
supply and nerve pathway which causes burning
sensation and pain. It aids in determination of the
location of artificial central incisors. The Location
of the incisive papilla gives proper estimation to
the amount of alveolar bone loss.
Relief Areas
2. Cuspid eminence:
It is a round bony elevation in the corner of the

mouth. It represents the location of the root of the
canine, which is helpful to be used as a guide for
selection and arrangement of maxillary anterior
teeth.
Relief Areas
2. Cuspid eminence:
Relief Areas
3. Midpalatine raphe:
It overlies the medial palatal suture, extended from the
incisive papilla to the distal end of the hard palate. The
mucosa over this area is usually tightly attached, thin
and non-resilient; the underlying bony union being very
dense and often raised, the palatal tori are located
here if present. Relieve adequately to avoid trauma
from denture base.
Relief Areas
Relief Areas
Palatal tori
Relief Areas
4. Fovea palatina: These are two
indentations on each side of the
midline, formed by a coalescence
of several mucous gland ducts;
they act as a guide for aiding in
locating of the vibrating line and
posterior border of the denture.
Supporting Structures
Primary stress bearing areas
1. Hard palate: the horizontal portion of the hard palate
lateral to the midline (also called palatal shelf area or

palatine vault).
2. The postero-lateral slopes of the residual ridges:

Residual ridge: It is the bony process that remains after
teeth have been lost, which is covered by mucous
membrane. The residual ridge considered to be the primary
stress bearing area. The residual ridge will produce the
ridge fossa or groove in the impression or denture.
Secondary stress bearing areas
1. Rugae: These are raised areas of dense connective
tissue radiating from the median suture in the anterior

third of the palate. The folds of the mucosa play an
important role in speech; the rugae area is regarded as a
secondary stress bearing area. It should not be distorted
in the impression.
1. Rugae:
2. Maxillary tuberosity: It is the area of the alveolar ridge
that extends distal to the maxillary second molar to the

hamular notch. In some patients it may be very large in
size (fibrous or bony) and interfere with the proper
placement of the denture, hence surgical correction may
be indicated.
2. Maxillary tuberosity:
Thank you

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Intra Oral Landmarks:

labial frenum to the buccal frenum, bounded by

In the denture, the area that fills this space is

membrane varies in size and shape and

notch in the denture which must be broad

to the buccal frenum to the hamular notch. It is

The area of the denture which fills this space is known

is a depression situated between the maxillary

The distolateral border of the denture base rests in

beyond the junction of the hard and soft

In the denture, the posterior

It is a pad of fibrous connective tissue lies between

Relief over the incisive papilla should be provided

It is a round bony elevation in the corner of the

1. Hard palate: the horizontal portion of the hard palate

lateral to the midline (also called palatal shelf area or

2. The postero-lateral slopes of the residual ridges:

1. Rugae: These are raised areas of dense connective

tissue radiating from the median suture in the anterior

2. Maxillary tuberosity: It is the area of the alveolar ridge

that extends distal to the maxillary second molar to the

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