Submucosal nodular chondrometaplasia in denture wearers

In 39 denture-wearing patients in whom anterior maxillary flabby ridge tissue (prosthesis fibroma) was excised, 15.4% contained cartilaginous nodules within this tissue. The chondrometaplasia may arise due to mechanical irritation activating pluripotential mesenchymal cells; but the possibility that the cartilaginous nodules represent remnant embryologic tissue cannot be excluded.