Anatomical Landmarks

Anatomical Landmarks
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Anatomical Landmarks
I- Extra-oral landmarks
II- Intra-oral landmarks

1- Upper arch ( maxillary)
A)- Supporting structures
B)- Limiting structures
2- Lower arch ( Mandibular)

A)- supporting structures
B)- Limiting structures
I- Extra-oral Landmarks
1- Inter-pupillary line:
this is an imaginary line running

between the two pupils of the eye
when the patient is looking
straightforward, used to establish
anterior occlusal plane of the
artificial teeth.
Dr. Emad mabrouk

2- Ala-tragus line:
this is an imaginary
line running from the
inferior border of the
ala of the nose to the
superior border
border of the tragus
of the ear ( camper's
line), used to
establish posterior
occlusal plane of the
artificial teeth.
3- Canthus tragus line:
this is an imaginary line

running from the outer
canthus of the eye to the
superior border of the
tragus of the ear. It aids
in locating the position
of the condyles
4- Naso-labial sulcus:
This is a depression that

extendeds downwards and
laterally to the corner of the
mouth.
It becomes deeper and more -
prominent with aging and
due to loss of teeth.
- Should be restored by
complete denture
5- Vermilion border:
It is the transitional epithelium
between the mucous membrane
of the lip and the skin. Following
the loss of teeth and resorption
of bone.
- It disappers in upper lip and
accentuated in the lower.
- Should be restored by
complete denture.
6- Philtrum:
It is a diamond shaped area

between the base of the nose and
center of the upper lip. With the
loss of teeth it becomes flat,
should be restored by the
denture.
7- Angle of the mouth:
Point of meeting between

the upper and lower lip. It
become inflamed and
ulcerated ( angular
cheilitis) as a result of
- prolonged edentulism.
- Lowe vertical dimension
of complete denture.
- Vitamin B deficiency
8- Modiolus:
Is the meeting place of the the
buccinators and other facial
muscles. With the loss of
teeth it becomes downwards
giving ( sunken cheeks)
characters. Should be
restored by the denture.
8- Mento labial sulcus:
It runs from side to side horizontally
between the lower lip and the chin. Its
curvature indicates the maxilla-
mandibular relation
Angle class I: normal antroposterior
relation, the curvature is gentle with an
obtuse angle.
Angle class II: retroded mandibular

position, the curvature form acute
angle.
Angle class III: Protroded maxilla-

mandibular relation, the curvature form
an angle of almost 180.
Class II Class I
Class III
II- Intra oral landmarks
1- Upper arch
1- Incisive papilla: It is the

elevation in the midline behined
the 2 centrals. After extraction of
teeth it migrates to the crest of
the ridge, it should be relieved to
avoid the burning sensation of
the palate.
2- Rugae area:
Irregular elevations of soft
in the anterior part of the
hard palate.
- It is considered a secondry
stress-bearing area.
Dr. Emad Mabrouk

3- Residual alveolar ridge:
It is the alveolar bone after

extraction of bone covered with
mucosa. It form most of the
hard palate are considered the
primary stress-bearing area in
the upper jaw.
4- Median palatine raphe:
It is the medline of the hard

palate, it is covered thin mucosa.
If not reliefed it cause
-Rocking of the denture.

-Ulceration.
- Midline fracture.
5- The tuberosities:
It is bony prominence at the

posterior part of the ridge,
terminating in the hamular notch,
important in retention and
stability, they are identifined in the
finished denture by the tubercular
fossa.
- large tuberosities, require
surgical treatment.
6- Foveae palatinae:
they are two opening of minor

salivary gland in the midline
posterior to junction of hard
and soft palate, the posterior
border of the denture should
be extended 2 mm posterior
to it.
7- Torus palatines:
a bony projection in the

midline of the palate, it
varies in size and form, if it
is small the denture should
be relieved at this area, if it
large it should be surgically
removed.
Dr. Emad Mabrouk

B)- Border structures ( limiting
structures )
1- The maxillary labial frenum:
fibrous band covered by mucous

membrane that extends from the
labial side of the ridge to the lip,
it has no muscle fibers, its
position in the denture called the
labial notch which should be
wide and deep enough to allow
the frenum to pass through
easily.
2- Labial vestibule (sulcus) :
it is a space bounded by the

labial aspect of the alveolar
ridge, muco-labial fold and
orbicularis oris muscle between
labial frenum and buccal frenum,
it is occupied by labial flange of
the denture, the length of this
flange should not extend more
than the vestibule, the thickness
of the flange depends upon the
degree of alveolar resorption.
3- Buccal frenum:
it may be single or double,

its position in the denture
called buccal notch which
should be wide enough to
previent dislodgment of
the denture during broad
smile.
4- Buccal vestibule:
It is a space posterior to buccal
frenum and extend to hamular
notch, it houses buccal flang of
the denture, the thickness of
the buccal flange of the denture
must not be thick to avoids
coronoid process of the
mandibule, the zygomatic
process often needs relief.
5- Pterygomaxillary ( hamular)
notch:
this notch is formed by the

pterygoid process of sphenoid
bone and the posterior end of
the maxilla back of the
tuberosity, it is used to
determination of the posterior
border of the denture due to its
compressibility.
Dr. Emad Mabrouk

6- Vibrating line of the palate:
It is imaginary line drawn

across the posterior part of
the palate that marks the
beginning of motion in the
soft palate when the patient
says ( ah ), it extends from
one pterygomaxillary notch
to the other, it is always on
the soft palate.
7- Posterior palatal border (post
dam):
It is the posterior edge of the

maxillary denture which is must
be placed at the vibrating line.
8- The soft palate:
It is the posterior part of the
palate.
There are three classes of the
curvature of the soft palate
Class I: gentle curvature allow for

broad width post dam (good)
Class II: medium curvature allow

for medium width of post dam
(medium)
Class III: sharp curvature allow for

narrow width of post dam (bad)
Palatal Throat Form
Maxilla
I
good
II
III
medium
bad
• Flatter the soft palate, the broader
the area of the vibrating line
2- Lower arch (mandibule)
1- Residual alveolar ridge:
It Is covered by fibrous connective

tissue, if it is firmly attached to the
bone it resist the force from the
denture ( secondary stress-bearing
area).
2- External oblique ridge:
it is bony ridge extend

obliquely from junction of
ramus of the mandibule
and the ridge to the first
molar on the external
surface of the mandibule
Dr. Emad Mabrouk

3- Buccal shelf of bone:
It is the area between the

crest of the ridge and the
external oblique ridge, it is
considered a primary stress-
bearing area because it is
cortical bone.
4- Retromolar pad:
It is a soft pad at the end

of the ridge, it must
covered by the denture
base to perfect the border
seal in this area
5- Mylohyoid ridge (internal
oblique ridge):
In the inner surface of the

mandibule from the third
molar to the midline.
6- Mental foramen:
It is located on the buccal surface

of the mandibule in the premolar
area, through which the mental
nerves and vessels pass, pressure
from the denture may cause pain
and numbness and this will require
relief in the denture.
7- Torus mandibularis:
It is bony projection
sometimes found on the
lingual surface in the
premolar area, if it is small
need relief, if it is large it will
require surgical removal.
8- Genial tubercles or mental spine:
bony projections at the lingual

surface of the mandibule in the
medline (the symphesis).
Following advanced alveolar ridge
resorption, these tubercles lie very
close to the crest of the ridge. in
these cases the denture may
require relief in this area.
B)- Border structure (Limiting
structures)
1- Mandibular labial frenum:
fibrous tissue that attach the lip

to the ridge, its position in the
denture called labial notch
Dr. Emad Mabrouk

2- The labial vestibule ( sulcus) and
labial flange:
It is the space between labial frenum,

buccal frenum, lip and the ridge. It is
occupied by labial flange of the
denture
3- Buccal frenum:
It is fibrous tissue attach cheek to

the ridge, its position in the
denture called buccal notch.
4- Buccal vestibule ( sulcus) and
buccal flange:
It extends from the buccal frenum

to retromolar pad, it houses the
buccal flange of the denture.
5- Masseter muscle influence
area:
the destobuccal corner of

the mandibule must avoid
pressure of masseter muscle
to avoid displacement of the
denture.
6- Lingual vestibule (lingual
sulcus) and lingual flange:
It extendes from lingual side of
the retromolar area to the
lingual frenum, it houses the
lingual flange of the denture.
The posterior extension of the
lingual flange lies in lingual
pouch.
7- Lingual frenum:
it is fibrous tissue attach

the tongue to the lingual
side of the ridge, its
position in the denture
called lingual notch.
Dr. Emad Mabrouk
Thank you

Anatomical Landmarks

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Anatomical Landmarks

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Anatomical Landmarks

II- Intra-oral landmarks

2- Lower arch ( Mandibular)

this is an imaginary line running

Dr. Emad mabrouk

this is an imaginary line

This is a depression that

It is a diamond shaped area

Point of meeting between

Angle class II: retroded mandibular

Angle class III: Protroded maxilla-

1- Incisive papilla: It is the

Dr. Emad Mabrouk

It is the alveolar bone after

It is the medline of the hard

-Rocking of the denture.

It is bony prominence at the

they are two opening of minor

a bony projection in the

Dr. Emad Mabrouk

fibrous band covered by mucous

it is a space bounded by the

it may be single or double,

this notch is formed by the

Dr. Emad Mabrouk

It is imaginary line drawn

It is the posterior edge of the

Class I: gentle curvature allow for

Class II: medium curvature allow

Class III: sharp curvature allow for

It Is covered by fibrous connective

it is bony ridge extend

Dr. Emad Mabrouk

It is the area between the

It is a soft pad at the end

In the inner surface of the

It is located on the buccal surface

bony projections at the lingual

fibrous tissue that attach the lip

Dr. Emad Mabrouk

It is the space between labial frenum,

It is fibrous tissue attach cheek to

It extends from the buccal frenum

the destobuccal corner of

it is fibrous tissue attach

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