Tooth Disorders—Jaw Injuries and Disorders

Your jaw is a set of bones that holds your teeth. It consists of two main parts. The upper part is the maxilla. It doesn’t move. The moveable lower part is called the mandible. You move it when you talk or chew. The two halves of the mandible meet at your chin. The joint where the mandible meets your skull is the temporomandibular joint.

Jaw problems include

• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
• Osteonecrosis, which happens when your bones lose their blood supply
• Cancers

Treatment of jaw problems depends on the cause.

• Jaw – broken or dislocated (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Malocclusion of teeth (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Micrognathia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Prognathism (Medical Encyclopedia)

Your teeth are made of a hard, bonelike material. Inside the tooth are nerves and blood vessels. You need your teeth for many activities you may take for granted. These include eating, speaking and even smiling. But tooth disorders are nothing to smile about. They include problems such as cavities (also known as tooth decay), infections, and injuries.

The most familiar symptom of a tooth problem is a toothache. Others include worn-down or loose teeth. It’s important that you see a dentist if you have any problems with your teeth. Fortunately, you can prevent many tooth disorders by taking care of your teeth and keeping them clean.

• Amelogenesis imperfecta (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Broken or knocked out tooth (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bruxism (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Dental crowns (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Impacted tooth (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Root canal (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tooth – abnormal colors (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tooth abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Toothaches (Medical Encyclopedia)