Development and

growth of the maxilla

DEVELOPMENT OF THE
MAXILLA
MAXILLA
 Components of the maxilla
1 – Maxilla proper (develops from the maxillary process).
2 – Premaxilla (develops from the medial nasal process).
Premaxilla carries the incisors and form the anterior
part of the hard palate.

INCISIVE
FISSURE
Development of the Maxilla is by
intra-membranous ossification

Tongue
Ossification center of the
maxilla proper appears in
relation to the dental lamina
Tongue
of C and lies in the angle
between: Infra
Orbital
AnteriorSuperior Nerve.
Dental Branch.

Ossification
Center. Coronal view
Tongue
a-Anterior superior
dental nerve and
Dental Lamina
of C. b-infra orbital nerve
 MAXILLARY
Infra Orbital Nerve PROCESS

Anterior Superior
Dental Branch

Fibrocellular
Tissue
Ossification Center

Dental Lamina
Of C.

MANDIBULAR
ARCH

Sagittal view
SPREAD OF OSSIFICATION
Strip Of Bone At first , ossification occurs below and
around the infra orbital nerve forming
the infra orbital foramen , then

From the center of ossification, bone

formation spreads:
1- Backwards below the orbit to form
the zygomatic bone,

2- Forward towards the incisor region.

3- Upwards to form the frontal process.

4- Downwards to form the
outer alveolar plate

5- Inwards into the palatine

process to form the hard palate.
-The inner alveolar plate develops from
the junction of the palatine process and
the body of the maxilla.

-Both outer and inner alveolar plates

form a trough that surrounds and enclose
the developing maxillary teeth germs.

-This trough will soon develop a roof and

divides into separate compartments, each
contains a separate tooth germ.
At 4 m.i.u.
MAXILLARY SINUS DEVELOPMENT
Development of the maxillary sinus begins at 4 m.i.u.
After birth, growth of the sinus leads to marked growth of
the maxilla.
 Accessory cartilaginous centers
help in development and growth
1 – At the region of the
future zygomatic or 3
1
molar process.
2 – At the margins of
the alveolar plate.
3 – In the middle of the
developing hard
palate. 2
 GROWTH
OF THE MAXILLA
 GROWTH
OF THE MAXILLA
 1- Sutural Growth
The maxilla articulates with other bones of the skull by four
main sutures that are parallel to each other and extend from
upward anteriorly to downward posteriorly.
So growth of these sutures will push the maxilla downwards
and forwards.

They continue till 10 years

 Fronto maxillay S.

Zygomatico temporal S.

Zygomatico maxillary S.

Ptrygo palatine S.

Median Palatine Suture will lead

to increase in the palate width
Pterygo palatine
Zygomatico-temporal
Zygomatico-maxillary

Fronto-maxillay
Median palatine
 2 – Development and growth of the
alveolar process

1 1

Upper Molars

2
Increases the height and the length of the
maxilla
3 – Development and enlargement of the
maxillary sinus

PNEUMATIZATION
1 – Bone resorption on
the sinus side.
2 – Bone apposition on
the facial surface.
 4 – Bone resorption and
deposition
Orbit
A

R
A

Tuberosity
A

Palate
• Deposition of the bone in the tuberosity
region: leads to the anteroposterior growth of the
maxilla.

• Bone deposition in the floor of the orbit, and

in the oral surface of the hard palate coupled
with bone resorption at the floor of the nasal
cavity add to the increase in the height of the
maxilla.
Subperiosteal bone formation

Serves as a main factor for

the growth of the maxilla.
SUMMARY
 Samples of Questions
A- Give an account on development of the maxilla.

B- Choose the correct answer:

Ossification center of the mandible arises between:

a- Maxillary and mandibular nerves.
b-Anterior superior alveolar nerve and infraorbital nerve.
c- Posterior and middle superior alveolar nerves.
d- Mental and incisive nerves.

C- Put √ or X and correct the underlined word if wrong:

Growth of the maxilla is achieved mainly by secondary cartilaginous centers. (X)
Correction: sutural growth
THANK YOU