Methods taught in dental schools for determining the posterior palatal seal region

The following conclusions summarize the results of a survey sent to the chairperson of the removable prosthodontic department of 70 dental schools regarding the concepts and techniques taught for developing the posterior palatal seal. A combination of clinical methods was most frequently taught for locating the vibrating line. The phonation of the Ah sound was the most popular single method taught for locating the vibrating line. Seventy-five percent of the dental schools taught that there is one vibrating line per person. The posterior flexion line was related to the distal termination of the maxillary denture by dental schools that teach the concept of two vibrating lines. Most dental schools (80.4%) do not use the fovea palatinae for locating the distal termination of the maxillary denture. Most dental schools (87.5%) teach students to carve the posterior palatal seal on the maxillary master cast. Most dental schools (93.9%) take the compressibility of the palatal tissue into consideration when carving the depth of the posterior palatal seal in the maxillary master cast. The butterfly pattern was most frequently described to carve the posterior palatal seal in the maxillary master cast.