The maxillofacial bones, including the upper and lower jaws, are complex structures made of numerous different tissues. The external shell is called cortical bone while the internal portion is called cancellous or trabecular bone. The bone marrow, with its numerous cell types, is located within the non-calcified spaces of the cancellous bone.

Needless to say bone marrow plays a vital role in the immune system so any damage to it can have an adverse effect on your health. There are two types of bone marrow, red and yellow. The yellow type which is present in the facial bones has a higher content of fat cells so is a potential " deep storage " area for toxins which are, by nature, fat soluble.

The jaw bones themselves are the supporting structure for the teeth and all the soft tissues including the muscles, gums and skin, allowing you to speak, chew , swallow ect.... They also are the only bones containing one the the 12 cranial nerves coming out of the brain through the skull. So the maxillofacial bones clearly have an important role to play in human health.

A number of disorders can affect the calcified portion or/and the bone marrow portion of the maxillofacial bones not including dental problems themselves and trauma induced damages such as fractures or electrocutions.

• Osteoporosis

• Periodontitis

• Osteomyelitis

• Ischaemic Osteonecrosis of the Jaws - Click here for a list of references

• Bone tumours

• Chronic Ischaemic jawbone Disease - (CIBD)

Ref: Histology of Chronic Ischaemic Bone Disease