Evaluation and Assessment of the Anatomic Variations of Retromolar Pad in Edentulous Patients

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate mandibular casts in order to classify and assess morphologic differences of the retromolar pad within a selected age group of completely edentulous patients. Also to highlight the significance of retromolar pad in the field of prosthodontics and its clinical relevance in complete denture fabrication. 
Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Islamic International Dental Hospital, Islamabad over a period of six months from January 1st to June 30th in the year 2024. 
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, including a sample of one hundred and twenty completely edentulous patients. Functional impressions were taken by a prosthodontist to fabricate mandibular casts. The shapes of the retromolar pad were determined with the help of diagnostic markings and were classified as; pear shaped, triangular shaped, and round shaped. Chi-square and One-Way ANOVA test was performed to review data in relation to gender and age, respectively. 
Results: Results suggested that pear-shaped retromolar pad was most frequently observed (54.2%), followed by the triangular shape (29.2%), while the round shape was the least common observed (16.7%). Moreover, the gender and age had no significant influence on the variation in shapes of the retromolar pad (p < 0.05). 
Conclusion: The present study concluded that the pear-shaped retromolar pad is the most prevalent morphological type among completely edentulous patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the shape of retromolar pads with age, side and gender.