Tori (singular: torus) are bony growths that develop on the roof of the mouth (torus palatinus) or along the inside of the lower jaw (torus mandibularis). They’re benign, fairly common, and usually harmless — most people who have them never need treatment. But in certain situations, removal becomes a practical necessity rather than a cosmetic choice.

What tori actually are: slow-growing, hard bony protrusions covered by normal oral tissue. They’re not tumors and don’t carry cancer risk. Many patients don’t notice them until a dentist points them out during a routine exam, or until they start interfering with something specific.

When removal (torus reduction) is typically recommended:

• Denture or partial denture fit issues — tori can interfere with a prosthesis seating properly or cause chronic sore spots
• Speech or eating interference, in cases where a torus has grown large enough to affect tongue movement or chewing
• Difficulty maintaining oral hygiene around a large torus, especially on the lower jaw where it can trap food and plaque
• Recurrent trauma or ulceration to the tissue covering the torus from chewing or brushing
• Planned oral surgery or implant placement in the area, where the torus is in the way of the surgical site

What the procedure involves: performed under local anesthesia or sedation depending on the size and location, torus reduction involves making an incision in the overlying tissue, carefully reshaping or removing the excess bone, and closing the site. Recovery is generally comparable to a routine extraction, with some swelling and tenderness for several days, and a soft diet recommended during initial healing.

Why “wait and see” is often the right call for smaller tori: since they’re benign and slow-growing, small tori that aren’t causing functional problems don’t need removal just because they exist. This is a case where treatment is driven by symptoms and function, not appearance alone.

If a torus is interfering with your dentures, hygiene, or comfort — or if it’s standing in the way of a planned implant or surgical procedure — our oral surgeons at Falcon Implants & Oral Surgery can evaluate whether removal is the right next step. Schedule a consultation to find out.