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Research Article
Revised

Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists

[version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]
PUBLISHED 29 Nov 2024
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Abstract

Abstract

Backgrounds

The retention of the maxillary complete denture may be influenced by adequate recording in the patient’s mouth, marking, and carving of the post-dam on the maxillary cast. Failure to do so may lead to loss of retention. Successful denture construction with patient’s comfort could be achieved by effective methods of recording, marking, and carving of the post-dam. The aim of the study was to assess Iraqi dentists in their knowledge and application of the post-dam in maxillary complete dentures.

Methods

Questionnaires were distributed randomly through online Google Forms and 118 Iraqi dentists with different academic degree participated in the study. A multinomial logistic regression model was also used to assess the nominal outcome variables.

Results

A High percentage of 90.7% of Iraqi dentists with different academic degree stated that they had the knowledge about the vibrating lines and their location and 84.7% stated that they mark the post-dam on the master cast, while 15.3% stated that the dental technician marks it. More the half (52.5%) of the participants carved the post-dam, while 47.5% of the participants stated that the dental technician did it. For participants not marking the post-dam, 30.5% of the participants stated they depend on the dental technician in marking and/or carve the post-dam, while the fear of denture failure and loss of retention was observed in 25.4% of the participants, followed by 24.6% of participants forgetting to carve, 10.2% of participants had no information about carving, and 9.3% participants found it was difficult to carve.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of the study, most Iraqi dentists with different academic degree stated that they had the knowledge on the location of vibrating lines. However, recording and carving the post-dam was influenced by the dentist’s personal preference and their dependency on the dental technician.

Keywords

Maxillary, complete denture, post-dam. 

Revised Amendments from Version 1

We have added new paragraphs with references in the Introduction and Discussion sections.
Also we added new references in the reference list and checked paraphrasing throughout.

See the authors' detailed response to the review by Zena Wally
See the authors' detailed response to the review by Khurshid Ahmed Mattoo

Introduction

A successful prosthesis, accepted by a patient, is that prosthesis that functions effectively during mastication and speech and is adequately retained on the edentulous arches. Precise recording, marking, and carving of the posterior palatal seal (PPS) is an important step for the retention of the maxillary denture and overall treatment of the edentulous patient. Thus, the significance of the distal extent of the upper complete denture needs to be adequately performed.1,2

Many researches were aimed to enhance the retention of the maxillary denture by enhancing the denture base adaptation to the supporting structures.3,4 Even the disinfection of dentures may have an influence on the dimensional stability and overall retention of the complete dentures or the damaging effects on denture base material itself.5,6 Such attempts enhanced the adaptation but did not eliminate the need for a PPS. The purpose of the PPS is to offer retention for a well-adapted upper denture and this is provided by an appropriate seal to reduce the effect of shrinkage from polymerization setting of the denture base material. In addition, the presence of the PPS prevents food accumulation between the posterior border of the denture and the soft palate, reduces gag reflex, and renders the extension of the posterior border of the denture more comfortable to the touch of the tongue.7 Adding additives to the denture base may enhance the strength of the denture base but the presence of the PPS itself can add extra strength for the posterior part of the upper complete denture.7,8

The preparation of the PPS should be performed with adequate understanding of palatal anatomy and the displaceability of the mucosa.9 The dentist should be responsible for recording, marking, and carving of the PPS and this responsibility and the completion of this step should not be shifted to the dental technician.1,2,9

An essential constituent of the manufacturing of maxillary full dentures is the preparation of the posterior palatal seal. It necessitates a technical and physiological evaluation, and a thorough inspection during the diagnostic stage of treatment can prevent a lot of possible issues. Therefore, it is the dentist's vital duty to determine the posterior palatal seal effectively.10

Even though incorporating digital into traditional methods has many advantages, some dental clinics may not be able to use CAD/CAM CDs due to their higher laboratory expenses.11

Several methods are employed to locate the vibrating line. These consist of the "Ah" sound phonation, the palpatory method, the swallowing method, and nasal blowing. Thus, it's critical to research this anatomical landmark and determine whether it may be used to approximate the vibrating line's location.12

Skinner13 stated that “The most effective addition to increase retention is the post dam”. In spite of the recommendations through previous researches concerning the importance of the PPS during denture manufacturing, the preparation and position was often ignored by dentists and dental students.14 Thus, a significant number of dentures were unsuccessful due to inadequate carrying out of the PPS.15

The dentist benefits from techniques that aid in the development of PPS during the final impression or border moulding stages. This is due to the fact that the dentist is no longer dependent on the technician and is fully responsible for finding and creating the seal.16

When the PPS is developed at the final impression stage, the dentist can take charge of the procedure instead of technicians using haphazard and imprecise cast scraping techniques.17

Adams18 investigated the methods for the PPS employed by clinicians and dental students during construction of complete dentures and determined how many carryout this step by themselves. He revealed that the location and measurements of the post-dam were overlooked or forgotten by the practitioners and dental students and placed in the hands of technicians. This showed the deficiency in attention given to the significance of the post-dam by the practitioners and dental students. There was a need for research directed to analyzing the reason for the decline in interest by students and experience dental clinicians for this step.

A survey was prepared by Sunil and Jain15 to investigate registering the PPS among dentists and dental students. The survey showed that they had satisfactory knowledge of the anatomical landmarks associated with the PPS, but were poorly associated with the size, shape, location, and compressibility of the mucosa of the PPS. This reflected the need for highlighting the importance of the PPS and its role in complete denture retention and the satisfaction of the patient.

Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the knowledge of Iraqi dentists with different academic degree for locating the vibrating lines, if Iraqi dentists mark and/or carve the post-dam, and what were the reasons for not recording the post-dam by the dentists themselves. The null and the alternative hypotheses for the study are shown with description in Table 1.

Table 1. The null and the alternative hypotheses for the study.

No.HypothesisDescription
1NullDentists do not have the knowledge on the location of the vibrating lines.
AlternativeDentists have the knowledge on the location of the vibrating lines.
2NullDentists do not mark the post-dam on the master cast.
AlternativeDentists mark the post-dam on the master cast.
3NullDentists do not carve the post-dam.
AlternativeDentists carve the post-dam.
4NullFear from denture failure and loss of retention is not the reason for dentists not marking and/or carving the post-dam.
AlternativeFear from denture failure and loss of retention is the reason for dentists not marking and/or carving the post-dam.

Methods

This study was approved by the Committee for Ethics / College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad (project no. 357221, date: June 7, 2021) and was conducted from October 2022 to November 2022 in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of Ethical Principles for Medical Research with Human Subjects. The consent form was distributed with the google form and gathered electronically. The consent form and the patient information sheet were written as recommended by the Committee for Ethics/College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad and the participants were aware of the aims of the research and the confidentiality of their personal information as they accepted to fill the google form questionnaire.

The questionnaire was shared as a google form online in different groups for Iraqi dentists with different academic degree on social media applications (WhatsApp and Telegram). The first part of the questionnaire consisted of the personal information for the participant including the age, sex, years of experience after graduation and academic degree; doctorate (Ph.D.), master's (M.Sc.), higher diploma (H.D.D.), and bachelor's (B.D.S). The second part consisted of four questions related to the study, as shown in Table 2. The data was analyzed by using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 19.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp https://www.ibm.com/products/spss-statistics . for frequency distribution. In addition, a multinomial logistic regression analysis model was used to examine the association between the dentists' ability to detect the vibrating line, including age, years of experience after graduation, gender, and academic degree.

Table 2. The questions for the second part of the questionnaire sample that was used in this study as a google form and distributed randomly to Iraqi dentists.

1. Do you know how to locate the vibrating lines, anterior and posterior, during maxillary removable denture construction?

  • Yes.

  • No.

2. Who marks the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction?

  • Dentist (You).

  • Dental technician.

3. Who carves the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction?

  • Dentist (You).

  • Dental technician.

4. If you do not mark and/or carve on the master cast, then why? (Choose only the most appropriate reason) (one only)

  • Fear from denture failure and loss of retention.

  • Have no information about carving.

  • Forget to carve before sending to dental laboratory.

  • Difficult to carve.

  • Depend on dental technician.

Results

The Iraqi dentists with different academic degree who participated in the survey were 118 in number. Among the participants, 86 were female and 32 were male with an age range between 22 to 46 years.

Most of the Iraqi dentists (90.7%) who participated in the survey stated that they know how to locate the vibrating lines, anterior and posterior, during maxillary removable denture construction and they answered by selecting “yes”, whereas 9.3% answered by selecting “No” ( Table 3).

Table 3. Frequency table of the knowledge of Iraqi dentist on the location of the vibrating lines, anterior and posterior, during maxillary removable denture construction.

FrequencyPercentValid percent Cumulative percent
Yes 10790.790.790.7
No 119.39.3100.0
Total 118100.0100.0

Most of the participants (84.7%) answered that they “dentist” mark the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction while (15.3%) stated that the “dental technician” marks it ( Table 4).

Table 4. Frequency table of who was responsible for the marking of the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction.

FrequencyPercentValid percent Cumulative percent
Yes 10084.784.784.7
No 1815.315.3100.0
Total 118100.0100.0

More than half of the participants surveyed (52.5%) reported that they “dentist” carved the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction ( Table 5), while (47.5%) of the participates stated that the “dental technician” did it.

Table 5. Frequency table of who carves the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction.

FrequencyPercentValid percent Cumulative percent
Yes 6252.552.552.5
No 5647.547.5100.0
Total 118100.0100.0

The percentage of participants who stated that they did not mark the post-dam on the master cast was 30.5% ( Table 6) and depend on the dental technician. While, the fear from denture failure and loss of retention was 25.4%, followed by 24.6% forget to carve before sending to dental laboratory, 10.2% have no information about carving, and 9.3% difficult to carve.

Table 6. Frequency table of the reasons why dentists don’t mark and/or carve the post-dam.

FrequencyPercentValid percent Cumulative percent
Depend on dental technician 3630.530.530.5
Difficult to carve 119.39.339.8
Fear from denture failure and loss of retention 3025.425.465.3
Forget to carve before sending to dental laboratory 2924.624.689.8
Have no information about carving 1210.210.2100.0
Total 118100.0100.0

A multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess the understanding of Iraqi dentists' for locating the vibrating lines, whether they mark and/or carve the post-dam, and why the dentists did not record the post-dam themselves. However, only the academic degree showed a significant association. Age, experience after graduation, gender, and academic degree do not affect the participants' knowledge of locating the anterior and posterior vibrating lines during maxillary removable denture construction ( Table 7).

Table 7. Multinomial logistic regression to detect the association of locating the vibrating lines with age, gender, experience after graduation, and academic degree as predictable variables.

Who marks the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction?aBStd. ErrordfSig.
DentistIntercept24.4855.2681<.001
Age-.274.2351.244
Experience_after_graduation .284.2251.207
[Gender=0] .800.5521.147
[Gender=1] 0b.0.
[Academic_degree=0] -17.727.7341<.001*
[Academic_degree=1] -19.0411.4591<.001*
[Academic_degree=2] -17.390.0001.
[Academic_degree=3] 0b.0.

a The reference category is Dental technician.

b This parameter is set to zero because it is redundant.

c † 0 = female; 1 = male, ‡ 0 = bachelor's (B.D.S); 1= higher diploma (H.D.D.); 2= master's (M.Sc.); 3= doctorate (Ph.D.)

d * Indicates a significant difference between variables (P<0.05).

Being a B.D.S and a H.D.D dentist will reduce the chance of marking the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction by 18 and 19 units, respectively compared to dependence on the dental technician for this step ( Table 7).

Being a B.D.S and a H.D.D dentist will increase the chance of carving the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction by 19 units compared to dependence on the dental technician for this step ( Table 8).

Table 8. Multinomial logistic regression to detect the association of carving the vibrating lines with age, gender, experience after graduation, and academic degree as predictable variables.

Who scribes (carve) the post dam on the master cast during maxillary removable denture construction? aBStd. ErrordfSig.
DentistIntercept-22.9794.5011<.001
Age.202.2031.319
Experience_after_graduation -.168.1961.389
[Gender=0] -.400.4591.384
[Gender=1] 0b.0.
[Academic_degree=0] 18.892.5091<.001*
[Academic_degree=1] 19.1951.3371<.001*
[Academic_degree=2] 18.342.0001.
[Academic_degree=3] 0b.0.

a The reference category is Dental technician.

b This parameter is set to zero because it is redundant.

c † 0 = female; 1 = male, ‡ 0 = bachelor's (B.D.S); 1= higher diploma (H.D.D.); 2= master's (M.Sc.); 3= doctorate (Ph.D.)

d * Indicates a significant difference between variables (P<0.05).

Discussion

One of the essential steps in treatment of edentulous patients is the construction of an appropriate denture with esthetically, functionally, and biologically acceptable features. The retention of the prosthesis is crucial to achieve these goals and the PPS plays a significant role in obtaining these features.2

The step for introducing the PPS in the prosthesis should be done by the dentist and should not be imposed on the dental technician.1,13

This study’s results revealed that Iraqi dentists stated that they had the knowledge for the location of the vibrating line and they marked it in the patient’s mouth. However, most of those who didn’t mark and/or carve the post-dam most likely depended on the dental technician and fear from denture failure and loss of retention.

The first alternative hypothesis was accepted for this study. Results showed that the highest percentage (90.7%) of the Iraqi dentists stated that they had the knowledge on the location of the vibrating lines. This may be related to the fact that the position of the vibrating lines had been taught in detail during the study in Iraqi Colleges of Dentistry. This result agreed with finding of Sunil and Jain15 who stated that the practitioners had an acceptable amount of knowledge. In their study they found that over half of the participants surveyed (57%) stated that they had knowledge on how to locate the vibrating lines, while 43% stated that they had no knowledge.

The second null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. Most of the participants (84.7%) stated that they mark the post-dam on the master cast during maxillary complete denture construction. This could be due to the confidence and adequate knowledge they have for this step. In addition, this step is essential to transfer the vibrating lines form the patients mouth to the maxillary cast and was a mandatory step that the students must do when constructing a complete denture during the college study in the Iraqi Colleges of Dentistry. Adams18 findings showed contradictory results in which most of dentists didn’t mark the post-dam on the maxillary cast. Also, our finding regarding the dentist carving the post-dam also disagreed with Adams15 since almost half of the participants (52.5%) reported that the “dentist” carves the post-dam during maxillary removable denture construction. Therefore, the third null hypothesis was rejected and alternative hypothesis was accepted. Krysinski and Prylinski19 suggested that the shape and depth of the PPS was influenced by the clinical experience and the ability to evaluate the mucosal compressibility in the post-dam area, as well as the practitioner’s hand-carving abilities. These findings were in accordance with this study, in which 25.4% of the participant didn’t mark the post-dam on the master cast, may be due to fear of denture failure and loss of retention, while 10.2% of the participants had no information and 9.3% considered carving as a difficult procedure. Therefore, the fourth alternative hypothesis was accepted.

Since no available data is dedicated to the issue investigated in this study in the literature, studies with a larger number of participants will be required to corroborate these observations and whether these explanations are correct. Additionally, it is recommended to include more research, particularly for alternative methods of establishing the posterior palatal seal areas.

Within the limitations of this study, most dentists with different academic degree stated they were familiar with the location of the vibrating lines, and they marked the post-dam. However, carving the post-dam was still a matter of subjective experience and they depending on dental technicians for this step. The marking of the post-dam may be related to several different reasons and the most common reason was that they depended on the dental technician in marking and/or carving the post-dam on the master cast followed by the fear from denture failure and loss of retention.

Ethics and consent

This study was approved by the Committee for Ethics / College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad (project no. 357221, date: June 7, 2021) The consent form was distributed with the google form and gathered electronically. The consent form and the patient information sheet were written as recommended by the Committee for Ethics/College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad and the participants were aware of the aims of the research and the confidentiality of their personal information as they accepted to fill the google form questionnaire.

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Abass SM, Khalaf BS, Jassim TK and Al-Khafaji AM. Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1006 (https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.154823.2)
NOTE: If applicable, it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
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Key to Reviewer Statuses VIEW
ApprovedThe paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approvedFundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
Version 2
VERSION 2
PUBLISHED 29 Nov 2024
Revised
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Reviewer Report 09 Dec 2024
Khurshid Ahmed Mattoo, Jazan University, Jazan, Jazan, Saudi Arabia 
Not Approved
VIEWS 8
This research has a serious flaw in methodology which has not been corrected. The measuring instrument which is a questionnaire is not reliable to measure four objectives stated by authors. The questionnaire itself has just four questions only which are ... Continue reading
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Mattoo KA. Reviewer Report For: Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1006 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.174983.r344392)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
  • Author Response 11 Sep 2025
    Shorouq Abass, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry, Baghdad, Iraq
    11 Sep 2025
    Author Response
    We sincerely thank the reviewer for their careful evaluation and insightful comments on our manuscript. We address the specific points raised as follows:

    1. Reliability of the Questionnaire and ... Continue reading
COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT
  • Author Response 11 Sep 2025
    Shorouq Abass, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry, Baghdad, Iraq
    11 Sep 2025
    Author Response
    We sincerely thank the reviewer for their careful evaluation and insightful comments on our manuscript. We address the specific points raised as follows:

    1. Reliability of the Questionnaire and ... Continue reading
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6
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Reviewer Report 02 Dec 2024
Zena Wally, university of Kofa, Kofa, Iraq 
Approved
VIEWS 6
Dear Editor,

The authors have ... Continue reading
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HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Wally Z. Reviewer Report For: Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1006 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.174983.r344391)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
Version 1
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PUBLISHED 04 Sep 2024
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Reviewer Report 11 Nov 2024
Zena Wally, university of Kofa, Kofa, Iraq 
Approved with Reservations
VIEWS 19
This study assesses Iraqi dentists' understanding and use of post-dam in maxillary complete dentures. Although the research holds substantial merit, some concerns require further attention.
  1. Proofreading: The entire manuscript would benefit from a thorough proofreading to
... Continue reading
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CITE
HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Wally Z. Reviewer Report For: Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1006 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.169899.r333838)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.
  • Author Response 23 Nov 2024
    Shorouq Abass, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry, Baghdad, Iraq
    23 Nov 2024
    Author Response
    Thank you for your insightful recommendations on our manuscript. Therefore, we will proceed to revise based on the details you have provided.
    Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT
  • Author Response 23 Nov 2024
    Shorouq Abass, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry, Baghdad, Iraq
    23 Nov 2024
    Author Response
    Thank you for your insightful recommendations on our manuscript. Therefore, we will proceed to revise based on the details you have provided.
    Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
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Reviewer Report 11 Nov 2024
Khurshid Ahmed Mattoo, Jazan University, Jazan, Jazan, Saudi Arabia 
Not Approved
VIEWS 10
I have reviewed the paper thoroughly up to the methodology section. The methodology section is fundamentally inadequate, incorrect and completely unreliable. The authors have generated four different hypotheses at the beginning and to test that they have used one questionnaire ... Continue reading
CITE
CITE
HOW TO CITE THIS REPORT
Mattoo KA. Reviewer Report For: Posterior palatal seal recording: fact and reasons among Iraqi dentists [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 not approved]. F1000Research 2024, 13:1006 (https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.169899.r333845)
NOTE: it is important to ensure the information in square brackets after the title is included in all citations of this article.

Comments on this article Comments (0)

Version 2
VERSION 2 PUBLISHED 04 Sep 2024
Comment
Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article:
Approved - the paper is scientifically sound in its current form and only minor, if any, improvements are suggested
Approved with reservations - A number of small changes, sometimes more significant revisions are required to address specific details and improve the papers academic merit.
Not approved - fundamental flaws in the paper seriously undermine the findings and conclusions
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