The maxilla is the paired bone that forms the upper jaw and a large part of the midface, fusing at the midline to support the upper dental arch and to contribute to the orbit, nasal cavity, and hard palate. It houses the maxillary sinus, the largest of the paranasal air sinuses, and provides the bony foundation for …
The maxilla is the paired bone that forms the upper jaw and a large part of the midface, fusing at the midline to support the upper dental arch and to contribute to the orbit, nasal cavity, and hard palate. It houses the maxillary sinus, the largest of the paranasal air sinuses, and provides the bony foundation for the upper teeth, making its structure central to mastication, speech, facial form, and the airway. In clinical practice the maxilla is a frequent site of reconstructive and implant-related procedures, because tooth loss and atrophy reduce alveolar bone volume and complicate prosthetic rehabilitation. Techniques to restore the posterior and anterior maxilla include sinus floor elevation through lateral-window approaches with graft materials such as hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate, ridge augmentation using bone morphogenetic protein and titanium mesh, and careful planning of immediate extraction and implant placement guided by cone-beam imaging. The maxilla is also pivotal in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, where maxillary constriction, skeletal malocclusion, and transverse deficiency are addressed with expansion devices and combined surgical-orthodontic management. Pathologic processes, including odontogenic tumors and cysts, may involve the maxilla, so its anatomy underpins the diagnosis, surgical access, and rehabilitation of a wide range of dental and craniofacial conditions.
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