Upper jaw: structure, functions, possible damage. The structure of the jaw and teeth in humans: canines, molars and incisors What jaw

The human jaw is a large bone structure of the facial part of the skull, consisting of two unpaired parts (upper and lower), different in structure and function.

The upper jaw (in Latin - maxilla) occupies a central place among the bones of the facial section of the human skull. This bone structure has a complex structure and performs a number of vital functions.

INTERESTING: With the development of labor activity, ancient people transferred some of the grasping functions from the jaw to their hands. As a result, the size of this bone structure has been significantly reduced.

Functions and purpose

The upper jawbone performs a number of important functions. Below is a description of some of them:

• Form-building. Forms the nasal and eye cavities, the septum between the mouth and nose.
• Aesthetic. The size and shape of this bone will determine the oval of the face, the fit of the cheekbones, and the external attractiveness of a person.
• Respiratory. Forms an extensive maxillary sinus, in which the inhaled air is moistened and heated.
• Chewing. The teeth located on the jaw provide chewing of the food consumed.
• swallowing. The muscles and ligaments involved in the process of swallowing food (including the tongue) are fixed here.
• Sound-forming. Together with the lower jaw and the airways, it takes part in the formation of various sounds. If this bone structure is damaged, a person's diction is disturbed.

IMPORTANT! During the day, a person makes about 1.4 thousand chewing movements. When chewing bread, the jaw experiences a pressure of 15 kg, fried meat - 25 kg, maximum pressure - 72 kg

Structural features

The upper jaw bone has a complex structure. It consists of several segments and processes, shown in the following picture.

Below we consider how the body of the jawbone is arranged, how many interconnected surfaces it consists of.

jaw body

Front surface, located under the infraorbital margin, has a slightly curved shape. On it you can see the infraorbital foramen and canine fossa.

Back surface consists of a tubercle and several alveolar openings for nerves and blood vessels. Next to the tubercle is the palatine groove.

Orbital surface consists of the lacrimal notch and the infraorbital groove, which passes into the infraorbital canal.

nasal surface and the anterior surface are isolated from each other by a nasal notch. The main part of the nasal surface consists of the maxillary cleft.

REFERENCE: The fixed upper jawbone is stronger than the movable lower jawbone. Together with other bone structures of the skull, it protects the brain from injuries and bruises.

offshoots

palatine process occupies a significant area of ​​the hard tissues of the palate. With the second process, located on the opposite side, it is connected using a median suture.

frontal process its upper side is attached to the nasal region of the frontal bone, the front - to the new bone, the back side - to the lacrimal bone. The lower edge of the process is connected to the body of the jaw. The process has a lacrimal sulcus and a cribriform crest.

zygomatic process begins at the outer upper corner of the body and has a lateral location. The upper part of the zygomatic process adjoins the frontal bone.

Alveolar ridge- This is a bone formation with a complex structure. It includes walls, dental alveoli, interdental and interradicular bone septa.

bumps

The infratemporal part of the jaw has a convex shape. Its most protruding area is called the "maxillary tubercle" (in Latin - tuber maxillae). At the base of the tubercle are alveolar openings for blood vessels and nerves. The oblique head of the pterygoid lateral muscle is attached to the maxillary tubercle.

In international practice, the following abbreviations are used to designate hillocks: PNA (according to the nomenclature of France), BNA (according to the Basel nomenclature) and JNA (according to the Jena nomenclature).

Features of the blood supply

The maxillary internal artery, or rather its four branches, is responsible for the blood supply:

• posterior superior alveolar;
• infraorbital;
• descending palatine;
• nasopalatine (see the following diagram).

The following table shows which areas the listed vessels supply blood to.

Blood supply to the maxillary bone

The venous network responsible for the outflow of blood does not always follow the pattern of the supply vessels. It is represented by parallel veins and venous plexuses. From the pterygopalatine node, blood enters the maxillary vein, and from there into the external jugular vein. From the plexus of the alveolar process, it enters the facial vein, and then into the internal jugular vein.

Teeth

When studying the anatomy of the upper jaw of a person, one should dwell in more detail on the structure of the teeth. On this bone structure are incisors, canines, premolars and molars.

Below is a brief description of the structure of the teeth of a normal, healthy human upper jaw.

Teeth located on the upper jaw of a person

Despite the fact that teeth differ in types (types) and forms of crowns and roots, their internal structure is the same.

Diseases and pathologies of the upper jaw

Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity can provoke the appearance of cysts on the human jaw - hollow tumors filled with fluid. Cysts are treated in several ways, but surgery is considered the most successful. Read more about the treatment of cysts in the article.
Inflammation of the bones can lead to osteitis, periostitis or osteomyelitis, the characteristics of which are presented in the following table.

Inflammatory diseases of the human maxilla

Periostitis can occur in fibrous, purulent or serous forms, and osteomyelitis in acute or chronic forms. These diseases can cause odontogenic sinusitis - a disease associated with the penetration of infection into the maxillary sinuses.

Among the malignant tumors of this bone structure, tumors of epithelial origin predominate.

Lower jaw

The lower jaw (in Latin - mandibula) is a movable unpaired bone located in the lower part of the facial region of the skull. In the process of evolution, this bone was formed from the first gill (mandibular) arch of a horseshoe shape, which it still retains (see the following diagram).

INTERESTING. The pressure coefficient during jaw compression in humans is 60 times less than that of a dog, 300 times less than that of a wolf, and 1600 times less than that of a shark

Functions

The lower jaw bone performs the same functions as the upper jaw. It is involved in chewing food, swallowing, breathing, sound production and distribution of the load on the teeth.

To chew food, a person has to close the dentition, and to swallow it and sound production, open them. In this case, a person can move the lower jaw in six directions: up and down, back and forth and to the sides.

The anatomical shape of this bone formation determines the attractiveness of the human face. A wide, protruding jaw makes a person's face coarser, and a thin, elongated jaw makes it narrow and effeminate.

REFERENCE. Scientists believe that the human lower jawbone has much in common with the bone formations of ruminants. Therefore, it is more convenient for a person to chew soft plant foods than coarse meat.

Structural features

The lower jaw of an adult is formed from the body and two processes. The rough surface of this bone formation is surrounded by well-developed muscles. The body of the jawbone consists of internal and external surfaces.

The inside of the bone

The central element of the inner part is the chin spine (bone spike), in which two large muscles are attached: the geniolingual and geniohyoid. Under the spine is the digastric fossa, a little higher - the hyoid fossa and the maxillohyoid line.

Under the maxillo-hyoid line, you can see the submandibular fossa - this is a trace from the submandibular salivary gland.

REFERENCE. In newborn children, the lower jaw bone consists of two separate parts connected by an epithelium. These halves grow together by the end of the first - the beginning of the second year of a child's life.

The outer part of the bone

On the outer part of the bone is the chin protrusion, a little higher - the alveolar elevations. The angle of the chin ranges from 46 to 85 degrees. Teeth are fixed on the front upper part of the bone formation.

At the chin protrusion, the chin tubercles are deployed, followed by a small opening (ø ≈ 1.5–5 mm) for vessels and nerves. In the background, the uvula, neck and two processes are visible: condylar, coronal.

Teeth

The anatomy of the human lower jaw studies not only bones, but also teeth. A normally developed jaw contains 8 pairs of teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars and molars. The teeth of the upper and lower jaws are similar in name, but differ in structure.

A brief description of the lower teeth is presented in the following table.

human lower teeth

Over the past millennium, the human jaw has decreased by 1 cm. Therefore, But you can not argue with anatomy. Therefore, people have to go to the dentist to remove the "extra" teeth.

Features of the blood supply

Several arteries are involved in the blood supply to the lower part of the jaw, forming large-loop and dense small-loop networks. Blood to the teeth comes through the inferior alveolar artery, to the lower side of the body and the inner surface of the angle - through the external jaw, to the chin plate - through the tongue, to the articular process - through the internal jaw, to the coronoid process - through the masticatory muscle artery.

branches

The lower jaw has two branches, smoothly passing into the condylar and coronoid processes. The shape of these branches is purely individual, as evidenced by the following figure.

The anterior part of the branches transforms into an oblique line on the outer side of the jaw. Medially, it reaches the posterior alveoli. The back of the branches connects to the base of the jaw. On the outer surface of the branches, chewing tuberosity can be seen, on the inner - pterygoid tuberosity.

The branches are turned inward, so the distance between their outer points is less than the distance between the condylar processes of the branches. The width of a person's face depends on the size between the branches.

Major diseases and pathologies

. May be open or closed. The most common causes of fractures are impacts and falls from great heights. A person with a broken jaw cannot chew food.

. Its most common cause is a blow to the jaw when the person's mouth was open. The mouth remains open during dislocation, it is impossible to close it with a hand. Treatment consists in repositioning the articular surface.

In contact with

Human (Latin mandibula) is an unpaired movable bone structure of the facial cranial region. It has a well-defined central horizontal part - the body (lat. basis mandibulae) and two processes (branches, lat. ramus mandibulae) extending at an angle upwards, extending along the edges of the body of the bone.

She takes part in the process of chewing food, speech articulation, forms the lower part of the face. Consider how the anatomical structure correlates with the functions performed by this bone.

General plan of the structure of the mandibular bone

In the course of ontogenesis, the structure of the human lower jaw changes not only in utero, but also postnatally - after birth. In a newborn, the body of the bone consists of two mirror halves connected semi-movably in the center. This middle line is called the mental symphysis (Latin symphysis mentalis) and completely ossifies by the time the child reaches one year.

The halves of the lower jaw are arcuately curved, located with a bulge outward. If you outline along the perimeter, the lower border of the body - the base - is smooth, and the upper one has alveolar recesses, it is called the alveolar part. It contains the holes where the roots of the teeth are located.

The branches of the jaw are located by wide bone plates at an angle of over 90 ° C to the plane of the body of the bone. The place where the body passes into the jaw branch is called the angle of the mandible (along the lower edge).

The relief of the outer surface of the body of the mandibular bone

From the side facing outward, the anatomical is as follows:

• the central, forward-directed part is the chin protrusion of the bone (Latin protuberantia mentalis);
• mental tubercles (Latin tuberculi mentali) rise symmetrically on the sides of the center;
• up obliquely from the tubercles (at the level of the second pair of premolars) are the mental foramina (Latin forameni mentali), through which the nerve and blood vessels pass;
• behind each opening, an elongated convex oblique line (Latin linea obliqua) begins, passing into the anterior border of the mandibular branch.

Such structural features of the lower jaw, such as the size and morphology of the chin protrusion, the degree of bone curvature, form the lower part of the face oval. If the tubercles protrude strongly, this creates a characteristic relief of the chin with a dimple in the center.

In the photo: the lower jaw affects the shape of the face and the overall impression of it.

Posterior mandibular surface

On the inside, the relief of the mandibular bone (its body) is mainly due to the fixation of the muscles of the bottom of the oral cavity.

It has the following areas:

1. The chin spine (lat. spina mentalis) can be solid or bifurcated, located vertically on the central part of the body of the lower jaw. This is where the geniohyoid and geniolingual muscles begin.
2. The digastric fossa (Latin fossa digastrica) is located at the lower edge of the mental spine, the place of attachment of the digastric muscle.
3. The maxillary-hyoid line (lat. linea mylohyoidea) has the form of a mild roller, runs in the lateral direction from the mental spine to the branches in the middle of the body plate. The maxillary-pharyngeal part of the upper pharyngeal constrictor is fixed on it, and the maxillo-hyoid muscle begins.
4. Above this line is an oblong sublingual fossa (lat. fovea sublingualis), and below and laterally - a submandibular fossa (lat. fovea submandibularis). These are traces of adherence of the salivary glands, sublingual and submandibular, respectively.

Alveolar surface

The upper third of the body of the jaw has thin walls that limit the dental alveoli. The border is the alveolar arch, which has elevations in the places of the alveoli.

The number of cavities corresponds to the number of teeth of the lower jaw in an adult, including the “wisdom teeth” that appear later than all, 8 on each side. The pits are septate, that is, they are separated from each other by thin-walled partitions. In the region of the alveolar arch, the bone forms protrusions corresponding to the expansion of the dental sockets.

The relief of the surface of the branches of the lower jaw

The anatomy of the bone in the region of the branches is determined by the muscles attached to them and the movable joint connecting it with the temporal bones.

Outside, in the region of the mandibular angle, there is an area with an uneven surface, the so-called chewing tuberosity (Latin tuberositas masseterica), on which the masticatory muscle is fixed. Parallel to it, on the inner surface of the branches, there is a smaller pterygoid tuberosity (Latin tuberositas pterygoidea) - the place of attachment of the pterygoid medial muscle.

The opening of the lower jaw (Latin foramen mandibulae) opens onto the central part of the inner surface of the mandibular branch. In front and medially, it is partially protected by an elevation - the mandibular uvula (Latin lingula mandibulae). The hole is connected by a canal passing in the thickness of the bone spongy substance with the mental hole on the outer side of the mandibular body.

Above the pterygoid tuberosity is an elongated depression - the maxillary-hyoid groove (Latin sulcus mylohyoideus). In a living person, nerve bundles and blood vessels pass through it. This groove can turn into a canal, then it is partially or completely covered by a bone plate.

Along the anterior border of the inner side of the branches, starting just below the level of the opening of the lower jaw, descends and continues onto the body of the mandibular ridge (Latin torus mandibularis).

Processes of the mandibular bone

At the ends of the branches, two processes are well expressed:

1. (lat. proc. coronoideus), front. From the inside, it has an area with a rough surface, which serves as the site of attachment of the temporalis muscle.
2. Condylar process (lat. proc. condylaris), posterior. Its upper part, the head of the lower jaw (Latin caput mandibulae) has an elliptical articular surface. Below the head is the neck of the mandible (lat. collum mandibulae), bearing on the inside a pterygoid fossa (lat. fovea pterygoidea), where it is attached

Between the processes lies a deep notch - a tenderloin (Latin incisura mandibulae).

Mandibular joint

The anatomy of the end sections of the branches of the lower jaw ensures its good mobility and articulation with Movements are possible not only in the vertical plane, the jaw also shifts back and forth and from side to side.

Form, respectively, two bones: the temporal and lower jaw. The structure (anatomy) of this joint allows us to classify it as a type of complex cylindrical joints.

The maxillary articular fossa of the temporal bone is in contact with the anteroposterior portion of the head of the condylar process of the jaw. It is he who should be considered the true articular surface.

The cartilaginous meniscus inside the joint divides it into two "tiers". Above and below it there are gaps that do not communicate with each other. The main function of the cartilage lining is cushioning when grinding food with teeth.

The temporomandibular joint is strengthened by four ligaments:

• temporomandibular (lat. ligatura laterale);
• main jaw (lat. ligatura spheno-mandibulare);
• pterygo-jaw (lat. ligatura pterygo-mandibulare);
• awl-maxillary (lat. ligatura stylo-mandibulare).

The first of them is the main one, the rest have an auxiliary supporting function, since they do not directly cover the joint capsule.

How do the lower and upper jaws contact?

The anatomical structure of the teeth of the lower jaw is determined by the need for closure and contact with the upper row of teeth. Their specific location and interaction is called bite, which can be:

• normal or physiological;
• abnormal, caused by changes in the development of parts of the oral cavity;
• pathological, when the height of the dentition changes as a result of their abrasion, or the teeth fall out.

Changes in bite negatively affect the process of chewing food, provoke speech defects, and deform the contour of the face.

Normally, the structure and relief of the surface of the mandibular row of teeth ensure their tight contact with the same maxillary teeth. The mandibular incisors and canines are partially overlapped by similar upper teeth. External tubercles on the chewing surface of the lower molars fit into the pits of the upper ones.

Characteristic injuries

The lower jaw is not monolithic. The presence in it of channels, areas with different density of bone material causes typical injuries in trauma.

Common sites for mandibular fractures are:

1. Holes of canines or premolars - small molars.
2. Neck of the posterior (articular) process.
3. Mandibular angle.

Since the bone is thickened in the region of the mental symphysis, and at the level of the 2nd and 3rd pairs of molars it is strengthened by an internal crest and an external oblique line, the lower jaw breaks in these places extremely rarely.

Another variant of damage that affects not the bone itself, but the temporomandibular joint, is a dislocation. It can be provoked by a sharp movement to the side (from a blow, for example), an excessive opening of the mouth, or attempts to bite through something hard. In this case, the articular surfaces are displaced, which prevents normal movements in the joint.

A trauma specialist should set the jaw to prevent excessive stretching of the surrounding ligaments. The danger of this injury is that the dislocation can become habitual and recur with little impact on the jaw.

The mandibular joint experiences constant stress throughout a person's life. It is involved in eating, talking, is important in facial expressions. His condition can be affected by lifestyle, diet, the presence of a systemic disease of the musculoskeletal system. Prevention of injuries and early diagnosis of articular problems is the key to the normal functioning of the lower jaw throughout a person's life.

The two bone structures located near the mouth opening are the human jaw. This is one of the most complex parts of the body, because it is individual, and its structure determines facial features.

Functions

The shape of the jaws determines the oval of the face, external attractiveness. But this is not the only function of the body:

1. Chewing. On the jaws fixed teeth involved in the process of chewing and digestion. The bone is able to withstand a high chewing load.
2. Implementation swallowing movements.
3. Talk. Movable bones take part in articulation. If they are injured or incorrectly located, diction is disturbed.
4. Breath. The participation of the organ in breathing is indirect, but if it is damaged, it is impossible to inhale or exhale.
5. Fixation sense organs.

The jaw is one of the most complex parts of the body.

The organ is designed for a high load, its chewing force can reach 70 kilograms.

The structure of the lower jaw

The structure is formed by two fused branches. At birth, they form a whole, but later separate. The bone is uneven; it has many roughnesses, depressions, tubercles, necessary to ensure the fixation of muscles and ligaments.

The strength of the lower bones is less than the upper ones. This is necessary so that they bear the main blow during injuries, since the upper ones protect the brain.

The bones of the lower jaw are less durable than those of the upper jaw.

The frontal region is the location of the mental foramen, through which the blood supply is carried out, and the tubercle for the localization of the teeth. If you see a tooth in section, it will be found that it is attached to the alveolar opening; at the bottom there are 14-16 (in adults). Another component of the organ is the temporal part, associated with the joint, having ligaments and cartilage that provide movement.

upper jaw

The upper structure is a paired bone with a large cavity - the maxillary sinus. The bottom of the sinus is located next to some teeth - the second and first molars, the second.

The structure of the tooth suggests the presence of roots, which require processing during pulpitis. Proximity to the maxillary sinus complicates the procedure: it happens that due to a doctor's mistake, the bottom of the sinus is damaged.

The bone has processes:

• frontal (upwards);
• palatine (facing the center);
• alveolar;
• zygomatic.

The structure of the jaw is the same for all people, the shape, dimensions are individual parameters.

The alveolar process is the location of the teeth of the upper jaw. They are attached to the alveoli - small depressions. The largest recess is for the canine.

The organ has four surfaces:

• anterior with alveolar process;
• nasal;
• orbital, creating the basis for the orbit;
• infratemporal.

In the center of the face is the upper jaw, which is a paired bone. This element is connected to all the bones on the face, including the ethmoid.

Bone helps form the walls of the mouth, nose, and eye sockets.

Due to the fact that the bone contains an extensive cavity inside, which is covered with a mucous membrane, it is considered air-bearing. Anatomy of the upper jaw - 4 processes and body.

The nasal and anterior surfaces are the components of the body. Also components are the infratemporal and orbital surfaces.

The orbital has a smooth texture and shape with three corners. The lateral side of the jaw element is connected to the lacrimal bone. The back side, located from the lacrimal bone, is connected to the orbital plate, after which it rests against the palatomaxillary suture.

The infratemporal surface is convex and has many irregularities. A noticeable tubercle on the upper jaw is formed from the infratemporal surface. The element is directed to the infratemporal region. There may be up to three alveolar openings in the surface. The holes lead to channels with the same name. They are designed to allow nerves to pass through and attach to the back teeth in the jaw.

The anterior surface rests against the buccal part of the process, while it is not possible to observe a noticeable border between them. On the alveolar process of that area there are several areas of bone with elevation. In the direction of the nose area, the surface merges into a nose notch with a sharp edge. These notches are the limiters for the pear-shaped aperture that leads into the nasal cavity.

The anatomy of the nasal surface is complex: at the top of the back of the surface is a cleft that leads to the maxillary sinus. On the back side, the surface is connected by a suture to the palatine bone. One of the walls of the palatine canal passes through the nasal area - the palatine sulcus. In the anterior part of the cleft, there is a lacrimal sulcus, which is limited by the frontal process.

Processes of the paired bone

4 branches are known:

• alveolar;
• zygomatic;
• palatine;
• frontal.

Such names were derived from their location on the jaw.

The alveolar process is located on the lower part of the upper jaw. It has eight cells for teeth, which are separated by partitions.

The zygomatic process is attached to the zygomatic bone. Its task is to evenly distribute the pressure formed as a result of the chewing process over the entire thick support.

The palatine process is part of the hard palate. This element is connected to the opposite side by means of a median seam. The nasal ridge, which connects to the opener, is located along the seam, on the inside, which is located on the inside, located towards the nose. Close to the front portion of the element, there is a hole that leads into the cutter channel.

The lower part of the canal has an uneven surface with noticeable roughness, has longitudinal grooves so that nerves and blood vessels pass through them. There are no rough edges on the top. The incisive suture can be seen mainly in front of the department, but there are exceptions due to the individual structural features of the human jaw. The suture itself is necessary to separate the incisor bone from the upper jaw.

The frontal process of the upper jaw is raised to the top, has connections with the frontal bone. There is a ridge on the side of the process. Part of the frontal process joins the middle turbinate.

The structure of the human upper jaw and all processes is a complex system. Each section of the upper jaw has a separate function, and all of them are designed for a specific job.

jaw function

Thanks to the work of the upper jaw, the chewing process occurs, which is necessary for the primary processing of food.

The jaw is responsible for the following processes:

• distribution of the load on the teeth while chewing food;
• is part of the oral cavity, nose and partitions between them;
• helps to determine the correct position of the processes.

At first glance, it seems that there are not so many functions performed by the upper jaw, but all of them are vital for the full existence of a person. Therefore, when problems arise with the elements, one or more functions are disturbed, which greatly affects the state of human health.

Peculiarities

There are several interesting topographical anatomical features that relate to the teeth in the maxilla. Basically, the same number of teeth are located on the upper jaw as on the lower one, but there are differences in the structure and number of roots.

It has been proven that in most cases a wisdom tooth erupts in the upper jaw on the right side. Why this happens - there is no exact definition.

Since the lower jaw has thicker bone, there are no problems with tooth extraction, unlike the upper jaw. Due to the thinner bone, a more careful attitude and handling of the extracted tooth is required. For this purpose, specialized bayonet tweezers are used. In addition, more research is needed for reinsurance. If the root is removed incorrectly, then there is a risk of a serious fracture. Any surgical manipulation should be carried out only in a hospital with the help of a specialist. It is dangerous to pull out teeth on your own because you can damage the entire jaw or bring an infection into the blood.

Possible diseases

Due to the fact that the elements of the upper jaw in the aggregate have a smaller volume, it is injured several times more often than the lower jaw. The cranium is tightly fused with the upper jaw, which makes it immobile, unlike the lower jaw.

Ailments can be congenital, hereditary or resulting from injury. Sometimes there is adentia (anomaly of one or more teeth).

Most often, the jaws suffer from fractures. A fracture can occur due to impact on a hard surface, such as when falling. In addition, a dislocation can become a pathology. Dislocations sometimes occur even in domestic conditions without external influence. This happens when the jaws are in the wrong position in the process of chewing food. A sharp careless movement causes the element to "go behind" the other jaw, and due to pinching, it is not possible to return it to its original position on its own.

Fractures of the lower section are much longer and harder to heal. This is due to the fact that the lower jaw is mobile, and for a full recovery, it is necessary to remain motionless for a long period of time. The upper section does not have this problem due to its complete attachment to the skull.

In some cases, a person develops a cyst on the upper jaw, which can only be removed by surgery. The process is voluminous and hazardous to health.

In addition to such diseases, the appearance of sinusitis is known. This process mainly occurs as a result of improper dental treatment. This happens because the maxillary sinus becomes inflamed and blocks the sinuses.

Sometimes there is an inflammatory process of the trigeminal or facial nerve. With such inflammation, it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis. In some cases, a completely healthy tooth is removed.

Also, do not forget about a more serious disease that can affect not only the upper but also the lower jaw. Cancer is the most dangerous disease, and some of the forms of this disease are treated surgically. In more rare cases, other methods of therapy are prescribed, however, the disease itself may not manifest itself for a long time.

This is not a complete list of diseases that may be associated with the upper jaw. Some pathologies are rare and are detected only after a comprehensive diagnosis.

Symptoms of pathologies

Each pathology of the jaw has symptoms that will differ from others.

• For example, with a fracture, the patient experiences severe pain, the inability to move the jaw. There is often severe swelling and bruising;
• Symptoms of a bruise are: pain, bruising, difficulty in making a chewing movement. With a bruise, the function is not completely absent, but at the same time, a person is not able to fully chew food;

• With sinusitis, pain occurs that radiates to the lower jaw, eyes or nose. The person cannot fully breathe. There is a severe headache, pus or mucus is released from the nose. In some cases, the temperature rises, nausea, dizziness, vomiting appear;
• The tumor may not have any symptoms at first, but after a while there will be pain not only in the jaw, but also in the joint. In some cases, there is a change in the symmetry of the face. The work of the joint is disrupted, so it is not possible to fully open or close the mouth. Such a pathology can affect not only the upper element;
• If the malaise is a problem with the teeth, then most often the causes are holes in the tooth, bleeding gums. The tooth may be loose or chip off. In this case, the disease is accompanied by acute periodic pain, which will only intensify over time.

Most diseases are characterized by pain. It is important to correctly diagnose, and only then begin treatment.

Diagnostics

You can diagnose the pathology of the upper jaw at the appointment with a dentist or therapist. The doctor learns about the symptoms that bother the patient, then examines the oral cavity. To confirm a possible diagnosis, the use of hardware research methods will be required.

To obtain a complete picture of the state of the jaw, it is necessary to conduct x-rays. The picture will immediately show a fracture or bruise, as well as its degree. X-ray allows you to determine the presence of pathologies that are associated with the teeth. In addition, in some cases, it is recommended to turn to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging procedures to obtain a more accurate result. Such studies are necessary if it was not possible to make a final accurate diagnosis after obtaining x-rays.

Certain types of pathological processes require testing in the laboratory, such as blood and urine.

It is not worth delaying contacting a specialist, as some ailments develop rapidly, and carry many unpleasant and dangerous consequences.

Therapeutic activities

Treatment is carried out depending on the diagnosis. When bruised, you need to apply a cold compress and reduce the load on the jaw as much as possible. It is advisable to give up solid food for a while.

A fracture implies the complete exclusion of solid food for a long period of time, while the jaws are sometimes fixed in such a way that it is not possible to make any movements with them.

The cyst and any other neoplasms are removed during the operation. If the neoplasm was of an oncological nature, it is possible to use radiation or chemotherapy. Their need is determined during re-diagnosis.

If the discomfort is associated with the teeth, then they are sometimes replaced using the clasp prosthetics procedure. During the procedure, removable dentures are placed. The clasp arch of the upper jaw allows you to create the appearance of the integrity of the teeth. With their help, a person can chew food. Such prosthetics are selected individually, based on the condition of the teeth.

Usually the teeth in the upper jaw are partially replaced, and for the full installation of dentures, another procedure will be required, where the dentures will already be fixed. In the case of fixed dentures, there is a high risk of rejection by the body, and a removable arch is suitable for everyone who has at least a few whole teeth. A partial removable denture for the upper jaw is expensive, but it is durable, and with the right choice of materials, proper use, it can be worn for a very long time.

Braces help straighten your teeth. Their task is to push all the teeth along the desired arc. This process takes several years. It also uses an arc frame to which the teeth are attached.

Some pathological conditions, such as congenital anomalies or the consequences of a serious injury, are corrected with rhinoplasty. The scar is not visible, which for many people is an advantage. The rhinoplasty procedure is expensive, but for people with congenital anomalies of the upper jaw, this is a way out.

When is an operation necessary?

Very rarely, a maxillectomy procedure is required.

A maxillectomy is an operation to remove the upper jaw. Indications for such a procedure may be oncological neoplasms that affect the processes or the body of the element. Also, an indication for the removal of the jaw is a benign neoplasm, if it progresses and it is not possible to stop the process with the help of drugs.

The procedure has contraindications:

• a state of general malaise;
• pathologies of an infectious nature;
• specific diseases that are in an acute stage.

Also, the procedure is not performed if the disease has passed to the stage at which the removal of part of the jaw will not help or there is a risk of aggravation of the condition.

Before any operation related to the jaw, a thorough examination of all organs affected and closest to this area is required. It is important to remember that there is always a risk of complications, but if the percentage is low and there are no contraindications, then the operation is performed to improve the patient's condition.

Possible Complications

Despite the fact that most of the pathological processes associated with the elements of the upper jaw go well, there is a risk of some complications, for example, a fracture may occur during the procedure, and if the incision was made incorrectly, one of the nerves can be touched, which threatens with facial paralysis.

But even if the operation was performed correctly, there is a risk of blood poisoning if the instruments were not sufficiently disinfected. The rehabilitation period is important, following the recommendations of the attending physician, since if they are not followed, treatment can be considered meaningless, and this applies to any disease.

Complications arise if you do not consult a doctor on time. Even a small and harmless neoplasm, in the absence of proper treatment, develops into dangerous pathologies, for example, into a cancerous tumor, which is difficult to get rid of.

Dental diseases should be treated in a timely manner, without waiting for acute pain. The disease from the teeth can go to the bone tissue of the jaw, and then the disease will progress throughout the body in the form of infection.

Preventive actions

To avoid serious problems with the jaw, its condition must be taken care of from a young age. If the first signs of improperly growing teeth appear in a child or there are obvious deviations from the norm in the structure of the jaw, it is better to consult a doctor.

Any congenital anomalies are best corrected while the child is small, until the bone is fully formed and there is an opportunity to help it correct itself without resorting to more serious surgical interventions.

Prevention of dental disease is a timely visit to the dentist, proper nutrition, daily brushing of teeth. To reduce the risk of developing dangerous pathological processes, you need to visit a doctor at least once a year.

It will not be superfluous to undergo an annual comprehensive examination of the whole organism. In addition, you need to be careful and avoid injury, as any injury is serious harm to the whole body.

Do not forget about the state of the psycho-emotional background of a person, since in the presence of visible defects, most people feel insecure. It is not necessary to delay the correction of serious visible deformities, since the formed bone tissues are more difficult to rebuild, and the risk of complications is much higher.

The key to the health of the body is the use of proper, healthy food, the obligatory use of solid varieties of food, and careful hygiene procedures. By following simple rules, it is possible to avoid the development of many pathological processes, which subsequently bring not only an ugly appearance to the face, but also tangible discomfort.

If you suddenly become disturbed by painful sensations that do not go away or appear more than once, you should immediately seek help from a specialist, since pain is one of the first signs of the development of dangerous diseases. Compliance with preventive measures can not always save from the development of the disease, but significantly reduces the risk of its occurrence.

You should not ignore even slightly perceptible discomfort if it appears regularly, since the most dangerous ailments often do not have pronounced symptoms, but the consequences of untimely treatment can be irreparable. Also, do not self-medicate, even if you know the exact diagnosis.

Not all therapeutic measures using folk recipes will be effective, some of them bring significant harm. Neglecting the advice of a doctor at the time of treatment or during the rehabilitation period will lead to a deterioration in the condition and aggravation of the course of the disease.

Upper jaw, maxilla , a steam room, is located in the center of the face and connects to all its bones, as well as to the ethmoid, frontal and sphenoid bones. The upper jaw takes part in the formation of the walls of the orbit, nasal and oral cavities, pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossae. It distinguishes the body and four processes, of which the frontal is directed upward, the alveolar is directed downward, the palatine is directed medially, and the zygomatic is laterally. Despite the significant volume, the upper jaw is very light, since in its body there is a cavity - sinus, sinus maxillaris (volume 4-6 cm3). This is the largest sinus among those in (Fig. 1-8,1-9, 1-10).

Rice. 1-8.:

1 - frontal process, processus frontalis; 2 - front surface, facies anterior

Rice. 1-9. The structure of the right upper jaw, maxilla (view from the lateral side): 1 - frontal process, processus frontalis; 2 - infraorbital margin; 3 - infraorbital foramen, foramen infraorbitale; 4 - nasal notch, incisura nasalis; 5 - canine fossa, fossa canina; 6 - anterior nasal spine, spina nasalis anterior; 7 - alveolar elevations, juga alveolaria; 8 - incisors; 9 - canine; 10 - premolars; 11 - molars; 12 - alveolar process, processus alveolaria; 13 - zygomatic process, processus zygomaticus; 14 - alveolar openings, foramina alveolaria; 15 - tubercle of the maxillary bone, tuber maxillare; 16 - infraorbital groove; 17 - orbital surface of the body of the maxillary bone, facies orbitalis; 18 - lacrimal groove, sulcus lacrimalis

Rice. 1-10. : 1 - frontal process of the maxillary bone; 2 - lattice comb, crista ethmoidalis; 3 - lacrimal groove, sulcus lacrimalis; 4 - maxillary sinus, sinus maxillaris; 5 - large palatine sulcus; 6 - nasal crest; 7 - palatine grooves; 8 - alveolar process; 9 - molars; 10 - palatine process, processus palatinus; 11 - premolars; 12 - canine; 13 - incisors; 14 - incisive channel; 15 - anterior nasal spine, spina nasalis anterior; 16 - nasal surface (facies nasalis) of the maxillary bone; 17 - shell comb, crista conchalis

Body of the upper jaw(corpus maxillae) has 4 surfaces: anterior, infratemporal, orbital and nasal.

Front surface at the top it is limited by the infraorbital margin, below which there is an opening of the same name through which the vessels and nerves exit. This hole is 2-6 mm in diameter and is located at the level of the 5th or 6th teeth. Under this hole lies the canine fossa (fossa canim), which is the site of the beginning of the muscle that raises the corner of the mouth.

On the infratemporal surface there is a tubercle of the upper jaw (tuber maxillae), on which there are 3-4 alveolar openings leading to the roots of large molars. Vessels and nerves pass through them.

Orbital surface contains a lacrimal notch, limits the lower orbital fissure (fissura orbitalis inferior). At the posterior edge of this surface is the infraorbital sulcus (sulcus infraorbitalis), which passes into the canal of the same name.

nasal surface largely occupied by the maxillary cleft (hiatus maxillaris).

Alveolar process (processus alveolaris) . It is, as it were, a continuation of the body of the upper jaw from top to bottom and is an arcuately curved bone roller with a bulge facing anteriorly. The greatest degree of process curvature is observed at the level of the first molar. The alveolar process is connected by an intermaxillary suture with the process of the same name of the opposite jaw, from behind without visible borders it passes into the tubercle, medially into the palatine process of the upper jaw. The outer surface of the process, facing the vestibule of the mouth, is called the vestibular (facies vestibularis), and the inner, facing the sky, is called the palatine (facies palatinus). The arc of the process (arcus alveolaris) has eight dental alveoli (alveoli dentales) for the roots of the teeth. In the alveoli of the upper incisors and canines, the labial and lingual walls are distinguished, and in the alveoli of the premolars and molars, the lingual and buccal. On the vestibular surface of the alveolar process, each alveolus corresponds to alveolar elevations (juga alveolaria), most pronounced in the alveoli of the medial incisor and canine. The alveoli are separated from each other by bony interalveolar septa (septa interalveolaria). The alveoli of multi-rooted teeth contain inter-root partitions (septa interradicularia) that separate the roots of the tooth from each other. The shape and size of the alveoli correspond to the shape and size of the roots of the tooth. In the first two alveoli lie the roots of the incisors, they are cone-shaped, in the 3rd, 4th and 5th alveoli - the roots of the canine and premolars. They are oval in shape and slightly compressed from front to back. The canine alveolus is the deepest (up to 19 mm). In the first premolar, the alveolus is often divided by the interradicular septum into the lingual and buccal root chambers. In the last three alveoli, small in size, are the roots of the molars. These alveoli are divided by interradicular partitions into three root chambers, two of which face the vestibular, and the third - the palatal surface of the process. The vestibular alveoli are somewhat compressed from the sides, and therefore their dimensions in the anteroposterior direction are smaller than in the palatobuccal direction. The lingual alveoli are more rounded. Due to the variable number and shape of the roots of the 3rd molar, its alveolus is diverse in shape: it can be single or divided into 2-3 or more root chambers. At the bottom of the alveoli there is one or more openings that lead to the corresponding tubules and serve to pass the vessels and nerves. The alveoli are adjacent to the thinner outer plate of the alveolar process, which is better expressed in the region of the molars. Behind the 3rd molar, the outer and inner compact plates converge and form an alveolar tubercle (tuberculum alveolare).

The section of the alveolar and palatine processes of the upper jaw, corresponding to the incisors, in the embryo represents an independent incisor bone, which is connected to the upper jaw by means of an incisal suture. Part of the incisal suture at the border between the incisor bone and the alveolar process is overgrown before birth. The suture between the incisor bone and the palatine process is present in the newborn, and sometimes remains in the adult.

The shape of the upper jaw is individually different. There are two extreme forms of its external structure: narrow and high, characteristic of people with a narrow face, as well as wide and low, usually found in people with a wide face (Fig. 1-11).

Rice. 1-11. Extreme forms of the structure of the upper jaw, front view: A - narrow and high; B - wide and low

Maxillary sinus- the largest of the paranasal sinuses. The shape of the sinus basically corresponds to the shape of the body of the upper jaw. The volume of the sinus has age and individual differences. The sinus can continue into the alveolar, zygomatic, frontal and palatine processes. In the sinus, the superior, medial, anterolateral, posterolateral, and inferior walls are distinguished.

Materials used: Anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of the dental system: Ed. L.L. Kolesnikova, S.D. Arutyunova, I.Yu. Lebedenko, V.P. Degtyarev. - M. : GEOTAR-Media, 2009