前言: 上顎後腭封(posterior palatal seal)區域對上顎全口義齒的固位性(retention)有極大的影響。上顎後顎封區域是指位於硬腭與軟腭的交界處,前後振動線(vibrating line)之間,為一充滿腭腺體及軟腭肌肉軟組織的區域。文獻上都建議在病人可以適應的範圍內,將義齒的後緣延伸到後振動線上,可以得到適當的義齒後緣封閉性。當義齒的後緣被正確的置放至這個區域且在生理範圍內義齒後緣能給予適當的施壓時,義齒可以有最大的固位性。但長久以來卻常因牙醫師忽略,未將後振動線正確標出,並正確延伸印模托的長度,導致義齒完成後,後腭封區域過短或是未被正確的放置,因而上顎義齒未能有適當的封閉而增加固位性。本研究的目的是調查一般牙科診所製作上腭義齒後腭封的差異,及解剖構造對其的影響,可作為臨床上牙醫師在製作上顎全口義齒時,評估此區域的參考。 材料和方法: 此研究是針對63個在牙科診所製作上顎全口義齒的老年人患者進行測量。使用發音法標示出其後振動線位置,並使用牙周探針量測其義齒後緣相對於後振動線的位置。以及上顎解剖構造,如:腭穹窿高度、軟硬腭交角角度(palatal form)、腭小窩的數量與位置,以統計並分析其相對於後腭封的位置及影響。 結果: 在所有受測者裡面,義齒後緣長度在正中點位置平均較後振動線位置短3.7 ± 4.0 mm,只有30.2%延伸到後振動線之上或是超過。不同的palatal form對後振動線位置有影響的趨勢(p=0.0896),但腭穹窿高度則對後振動線位置沒有顯著性的差異。Palatal form以House Class II為最多,腭穹窿高度以中等高度為最多,且並沒有性別上的差異。腭小窩位置相對於後振動線的距離平均為0.7 ± 2.1 mm,義齒後緣到腭小窩的距離平均為4.5 ± 4.0 mm。 結論: 後腭封區域位置一定程度會受相關解剖構造所影響,且腭小窩位置的變化太大,不適合當作義齒後緣的參考點,所以臨床上牙醫師應確實的將後振動線位置標出,避免以目測方式決定上顎義齒後腭封區域的位置,而導致上顎義齒後緣的位置不正確,以增加上顎義齒的固位性。
Introduction: The importance of posterior palatal seal to the maxillary denture retention can not be overemphasized. The posterior palatal seal area is defined as, ”The soft tissue area at or beyond the junction of the hard and soft palates on which pressure, within physiologic limits, can be applied by a complete RDP (Removable Dental Prosthesis) to aid in its retention” Material and methods: A total of 63 maxillary edentulous patients who wear complete maxillary denture is included in this study. Use phonation method to defined the vibrating line. And use periodontal probe to measure the position of the posterior vibrating line and distance between posterior denture border to posterior vibrating line, height of palatal vault, and the position of fovea palatinae to the posterior vibrating line. The House Classification of palatal form and number of fovea palatinae is recorded. Results: The posterior border of denture base is shorter than posterior vibrating line for 3.7 ± 4.0 mm at average. Vibrating line position is influenced by different palatal throat form(p=0.0896). House Class II Palatal form and medium palatal vault height is of the most patients without gender deviation. The distance of the fovea palatinae to the posterior vibrating line is 0.7 ± 2.1 mm in average, and the distance of the fovea palatinae to the posterior border of denture base is 4.5 ± 4.0 mm in average. Conclusion: The posterior palatal seal area indeed in a certain degree would be affected by the surrounding anatomic structure and the fovea palatinae is not a reliable landmark of posterior border of maxillary denture base. Dentists who fabricating complete denture of this area should pay more attention to mark the posterior vibrating line during the chair time to achieve optimal denture retention.