The mandible is the only moveable bone of the skull, forming the lower jaw. It articulates with the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint and provides attachment for the muscles of mastication and tongue.
The mandible is the most commonly fractured facial bone overall, with fractures occurring at the condyle (most common site), angle, parasymphysis, and body. The inferior alveolar nerve runs through the mandibular canal and can be injured in condylar and body fractures, producing ipsilateral lower lip numbness. The third molar roots are intimately related to the inferior alveolar canal, making wisdom tooth extraction the most common cause of inferior alveolar nerve injury. Bilateral condylar fractures produce anterior open bite from bilateral shortening of the mandibular rami.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.