Prosthodontics & Occlusion · single question
What type of tissue is found against the POSTERIOR BORDER (posterior palatal seal area) of a maxillary complete denture?
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Correct answer: B. Nonkeratinized mucosa over cancellous bone
The posterior palatal seal area has nonkeratinized mucosa over cancellous (trabecular) bone — compressible, allowing the posterior palatal seal.
- A. The anterior hard palate (rugae area) is keratinized over cortical bone — NOT the posterior border location.
- B. CORRECT. The posterior palatal seal area = nonkeratinized mucosa over cancellous bone. This area's compressibility (soft tissues and cancellous support) allows creation of the posterior palatal seal.
- C. Nonkeratinized is correct, but cortical vs. cancellous: the posterior palate has cancellous bone underlying the vibrating line area, not cortical.
- D. Minor salivary glands are present but the epithelium here is nonkeratinized, not keratinized.
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