Oral tori are associated with local mechanical and systemic factors: a case-control study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case-control study
PubMed 23010373 · doi:10.1016/j.joms.2012.08.005
What was done
A case-control study was conducted over a 1.5-year period comparing 100 cases with oral tori (66 with torus mandibularis [TM] and 34 with torus palatinus [TP]) against 100 database controls. Medical records were abstracted for dental parameters, temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), medications, and medical conditions. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.
What was found
Any oral torus (TP and/or TM) was significantly associated with TMD (AOR, 10.51; 95% CI, 4.46 to 24.78; P < .01) and tooth attrition (AOR, 5.22; 95% CI, 2.32 to 11.77; P < .01). TP specifically showed significant associations with TMD (AOR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.21 to 14.21; P < .05), tooth attrition (AOR, 38.18; 95% CI, 7.20 to 202.41; P < .01), and treated hypertension (AOR, 6.64; 95% CI, 1.31 to 33.57; P < .05). TM was significantly associated with TMD (AOR, 5.77; 95% CI, 2.38 to 13.98; P < .01), tooth attrition (AOR, 6.69; 95% CI, 2.78 to 16.14; P < .01), and penicillin allergy (AOR, 4.45; 95% CI, 1.05 to 18.83; P < .05).
Why it matters
The study supports the hypothesis that local mechanical factors (such as occlusal stress and TMD) play a major role in oral tori presence, alongside potential systemic associations.
Limits
The retrospective case-control design cannot establish causality or temporal order. Small subgroup sample sizes (especially 34 TP cases) led to extremely wide confidence intervals. Relying on chart abstraction introduces potential information bias and unmeasured confounding.
Cited by
- supports High occlusal forces from teeth clenching and grinding stimulate the formation of oral tori and bone exostoses.