Contours of the edentulous palate.

Diagnostic casts were made of the palates of 123 patients who had complete dentures. Categorization of all cross-arch palatal forms yielded a distribution in which 93% showed some variation of a U-shaped palatal form, be it angular or mildly curved. Along the midline, 12% had steep anterior inclines, curved midpalatal regions, and curved posterior palates; 69% had moderate anterior inclinations, curved midpalates, and curved posterior palates; 12% had palates that were moderately inclined anteriorly, flat in the midpalatal section, and flat posteriorly. The remaining palates were predominantly flat in two of the three regions measured.