Mandible

The mandible otherwise known as the inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. It is the flexibility of the mandible that allows us to chew and talk.

Anatomy of the Mandible

The mandible consists of the following:

• The body, which is a curved, horizontal portion,
• The rami, two perpendicular portions which unite with the ends of the body nearly at right angles,
• Alveolar process, which is the tooth bearing area of the mandible,
• Condyle, upper and posterior projection from the ramus. This makes the temporomandibular joint with the temporal bone, and
• Coronoid process, superior and anterior projection from the ramus. This provides attachment to the temporalis muscle

The mandible also consists of the inferior alveolar nerve that supplies sensation to the teeth. It consists of the incisive nerve and the mental nerve. The mental nerve supplies the sensation to the lower lip and the incisive nerve supplies the anterior teeth.

The mandible articulates with the two temporal bones at the temporromandibular joints.

What affects the Mandible?

The mandible suffers from the usual bone conditions. Some of the more common mandible conditions include:

• A broken jaw,
• A dislocated jaw,
• Facial fracture , and
• Dental abscess - An inflamed, pus filled lump in the bone or soft tissues of the jaw. The abscess may be caused by tooth decay or by an injury to the tooth. The condition is often painful and if untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the mouth or even the body.

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