Maxilla

Categories: Aesthetics, Anatomy, Lookism

The '''maxilla''' is the upper jawbone.  It fuses together two irregularly-shaped bones along the median palatine suture, located at the midline of the roof of the mouth.

==Maxillary retrusion==

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Other terms associated with '''maxillary retrusion''' include:
*Midface retrusion
*Midface hypoplasia
*Midfacial retrusion
*Midfacial hypoplasia
*Midfacial retrognathia (used rarely)
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'''Maxillary retrusion''', also called '''maxillary retrognathia''' or '''maxillary hypoplasia''', is when the [[wikipedia:maxilla|maxilla]] recedes with respect to the frontal plane of the forehead. A retruded maxilla can have detrimental effects on a person's aesthetics.

Maxillary retrusion can be prevented or reversed, during childhood, using an exercise conceived by the orthodontist [[Mike Mew]]. This exercise involves putting pressure on the roof of your mouth using your tongue, and should be done continuously throughout the day. This exercise not only protrudes the maxilla, but protrudes the [[zygomatic bone]]s as well, because the zygomatic bones are connected to the maxilla.

Surgical procedures in correcting maxillary retrusion include [[LeFort I]] [[maxillary advancement]], [[LeFort II]] maxillary advancement, or a [[LeFort III]] maxillary advancement.

==Maxillary protrusion==

The reverse of maxillary retrusion is called '''maxillary protrusion''' or '''maxillary prognathia'''. Maxillary protrusion should not be confused with '''dentoalveolar protrusion''', also called '''bidental protrusion''', '''bialveolar protrusion''', '''bimaxillary protrusion''' or '''bimax'''. (However, John Mew explains that bimaxillary protrusion is a misnomer.) Bimaxillary protrusion is an ethnic variation that has little influence to physical attractiveness.

Note that it is possible for one to have a bimax yet a retruded maxilla.

==Narrow maxilla==
A '''narrow maxilla''' is a maxilla which does not have much lateral projection. It could be caused by poor oral posture. In narrow maxillas, the cheekbones do not project laterally much. Narrow dental arch.

[[Palate expansion]] is used to correct a narrow maxilla. It could broaden cheekbones as well.

==Downward maxilla==
A '''downward maxilla''' is a maxilla which falls downward or grows downward. It could be caused by poor oral posture. Those with a downward maxilla usually have downward orbital rims as well. 

[[Maxillary impaction]] is a procedure which corrects a downward maxilla. A [[LeFort III]] could elevate the maxillozygomatic area, including the infraorbital rims, upward.

==Causes of poor maxillary development==
*Poor oral posture
*Acidic diet
*Vitamin K insufficiency
*Poor head and body posture - Caused by sitting too much.
*Lack of hard foods
*Stress - Effects tongue position and head posture.
*Thumb sucking
*Allergies
*Sleep position
*Bottlefeeding
*Retractive orthodontic treatment (braces, headgear and extractions)
*Inflammation - leads to mucus production
*Poor diet - could lead to inflammation and allergies, leading to nasal blockage

==Effects of poor maxillary development==
===Eye area===
*Darkness under the [[eyes]] due to infraorbital retrusion.

===Paranasal area===

===Nose===
{{quote|The nose is more pronounced in an ideal occlusion (straight teeth) but in the various malocclusions (crooked teeth) where the maxilla (top jaw) is underdeveloped it appears larger, although in fact it is smaller.<ref>Mike Mew (1986). [http://www.buteykochildren.com/mouth_breathing_and_facial_development.php Mouth Breathing and Facial Development]</ref>|John Mew}}

Dorsal hump ("hook nose") as the bottom cartilaginous part of the nose gets pulled inward by the retruded maxilla.<ref>John Mew. [http://orthotropics.com/orthotropics_download/The%20Cause%20Of%20Malocclusion%20-%20Reading%20The%20Face.pdf The Cause and Cure of Malocclusion.] "The Duke of Wellington (Fig IV/23) provides a good illustration of an increase in both the upper and Lower Indicator Line. It can be seen
that in relation to the frontal bone, the nasal bones themselves remain relatively static causing the nose to become progressively
hooked as the nasal cartilage drops back with the maxilla."</ref>

===Lower third===
*More pronounced '''nasolabial folds'''.
*'''Marionette lines''' caused by unsupported soft tissue from the [[cheeks]] by retruded mandible.
*Pronounced separation of soft tissue between [[chin]] and cheeks.
*Unpronounced jawline caused by tucked-in soft tissue by retruded mandible.
*Stuffy cheeks
*Small teeth
*Crowded teeth
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==Effects on head position==
*Forward head posture.
*A forward head posture will shift your weight to the front, making it unbalanced. Tilting your head up shifts the weight back, rebalancing the weight. [Diagram needed]
*A retruded maxilla blocks the airway. Tilting the head up opens up the airway to some extent. [Diagram needed]
*People with retruded maxillas usually have relatively forward foreheads, which blocks their upper field-of-vision to some extent. They tilt up their heads up to have a more balanced field-of-vision. [Diagram needed]
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==Health effects==
A retruded maxilla is maladaptive since it causes snoring, sleep apnea, insufficient oxygen intake and spinal imbalance.. So a retruded maxilla like all other facial deformities are selected against. A retruded maxilla pushes the tongue back thus obstructs the airway, causing snoring and sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea have 20% decreased life expectancy<ref>http://www.leefongdds.com/forms/leefong_english_notes_on_osa.pdf</ref> and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.<ref>http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/clinical-updates/neurosciences/obstructive-sleep-apnea-cardioembolic-stroke-risk</ref> Most stroke patients suffer from sleep apnea. 

A retruded maxilla blocks the airway passage, which in turn makes people to move their heads forward to compensate. Forward head posture, however, places a load on the spine. It could increase spinal load by several pounds, inhibiting mobility and increasing needless effort to maintain balance.

==Other effects==
A protruded maxilla increases the volume of the resonance chamber, the mouth. This leads to richer vocalization. Singers have protruded maxilla and are more likely to be attractive. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNZerRShJsY Example]. Good looking actors like Johnny Depp[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Z3TS7RS-k] and Brad Pitt[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn3WUcDDU40] have good voices.

==Identification==
The [[indicator line]] can tell you what your maxillary position is.
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==How to simulate a normal (protruded) maxilla==
Jut your [[mandible]] forward. You would see a defined jawline, hollower [[cheeks]] and no separation of soft tissue between [[chin]] and cheeks.

Stuff something on the front of your upper teeth to lessen some of your paranasal hollowing. You can also pout your upper lip forward.
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==Photoshopping a protruded maxilla==

==See Also==
*[[Mike Mew]]
*[[:Category:Aesthetics|List of aesthetics]]

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Aesthetics]]
[[Category:Anatomy]]
[[Category:Lookism]]
{{Lookism}}