Anatomy is taught in the early stage of one’s career.
Therefore, we tend to forget the details.
Even if we remember some anatomy,
no pathology is involved in our education
and the clinical relevance is only appreciated
after practicing for some time.
Besides, the way by which the cadavers are dissected
is from the outer layer towards inner layers,
or the specimens are cut in ideal planes
such as sagittal section.
The approach in surgery is in contrast,
not necessarily following the same manner.
Learning surgical anatomy can help the surgeons appreciate
the structures being cut
and improve their confidence in doing surgery.
Another point is that
a good knowledge of anatomy can help us recognize
anatomical variations before doing the surgery,
for example, a bifid of the mandibular canal.
Nowadays, with newer technologies
such as CT-Scan and 3D printing,
surgeons can practice the procedures in models
before the actual surgery,
and the relevant anatomy can be appreciated more.
The maxilla is formed by two maxillae bone
joining at the center,
and they form part of the orbital floors,
nasal cavities, hard palate and the alveolar process.
The maxillary sinuses are contained in the body.
The relevant openings in the maxilla
where the blood vessels and nerves travel through
include the infra-orbital foramen,
posterior superior alveolar foramina, and incisive foramen.
The greater and lesser palatine foramen
of the palatine bones are located posteriorly.
Following teeth loss in the upper jaw,
the alveolar process of the maxilla resorbs mainly
at labial and buccal aspects,
and finally in a superior direction,
which results in a smaller alveolar ridge.
If bone quantity is inadequate,
we need to consider various bone grafting techniques
as adjunctive procedures.
For the quality of bone,
the maxilla usually consists
of type III or type IV bones,
which indicates a thinner outer cortex
with larger cancellous space.
When placing implants in soft bones,
we need to modify the drilling protocol
in order to achieve a better primary stability
of the implant fixture.