Published September 2026
1 of 5Some people have a smooth, harmless extra bit of bone here, under the gum
- Some people have a smooth, harmless extra bit of bone here, under the gum
- It only comes out if it's getting in the way, like a denture not fitting or a spot rubbing sore
- The gum is lifted back so the bone underneath is reachable
- The bump is smoothed level with the rest of the ridge
- The gum is laid back down over the flatter surface and stitched
Who usually does it
oral surgeon. Referred to an oral surgeon or periodontist.
One question worth asking
Is this needed for the denture to fit, or is it optional?
Removing a bony bump (torus)
Some people have harmless extra bone on the roof of the mouth, inside the lower jaw, or behind the molars. It is removed when it gets in the way of a denture or keeps getting sore.
These bony lumps are common and harmless, and they are only taken out when they get in the way. The gum is lifted, the bone is reduced with a bur or chisel, and the gum is stitched back over the flatter surface. It is a frequent step before a denture is made. Most plans file this as Major. What they actually pay varies by plan.
Codes for this
D7471MajorRemoving a bony bump on the outside of the jawExtra bone on the cheek side of the jaw.per site · Rarely doneD7472MajorRemoving a bony bump on the roof of the mouthExtra bone in the middle of the palate.per site · Rarely doneD7473MajorRemoving a bony bump inside the lower jawExtra bone on the tongue side of the lower jaw.per site · Rarely doneD7485MajorReducing the bony ridge behind the molarsTrims the bony bump behind the last upper molar.per site · Rarely doneD7972MajorReducing the soft tissue behind the upper molarsTrims the soft tissue bump behind the last upper molar, usually for a denture.per site · Rarely done
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