Anatomy
Jawbone
The jawbone is the set of bones that holds your teeth. It includes the upper jaw (maxilla), the lower jaw (mandible) and the joints that connect them to the skull.
Your jaw is made of two main bones. The maxilla is the upper jaw, and it does not move. The mandible is the lower jaw, and it moves when you talk and chew. The two joints near your ears connect the lower jaw to your skull. These are the temporomandibular joints.
The part of the jawbone that holds the roots of your teeth is the alveolar bone. It keeps teeth firm. Tooth loss, gum disease and some injuries can reduce this bone.
Jaw pain, clicking or trouble opening wide are worth mentioning to your dentist. They can help work out whether the cause is in the teeth, the muscles or the joints.