Alveolar process - wikipedia Alveolar process Jump to : navigation , search Alveolar process Left maxilla . Outer surface . ( Alveolar process visible at bottom . ) Cartilages of the nose , seen from below . ( Alveolar process of maxilla visible at bottom . Details Identifiers Latin Processus alveolaris TA A02. 1.12. 035 FMA 52897 Anatomical terms of bone ( edit on Wikidata ) The alveolar process ( / ælˈviːələr / ) ( alveolar bone ) is the thickened ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets ( dental alveoli ) on bones that hold teeth . In humans , the tooth - bearing bones are the maxillae and the mandible . Contents ( hide ) 1 Structure 1.1 Features 2 Clinical significance 2.1 Developmental disturbances 2.2 Pathology 3 Additional images 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Structure ( edit ) On the maxillae , the alveolar process is a ridge on the inferior surface , and on the mandible it is a ridge on the superior surface . It makes up the thickest part of the maxillae . The alveolar process contains a region of compact bone adjacent to the periodontal ligament ( PDL ) , which is called the lamina dura when viewed on radiographs . It is this part which is attached to the cementum of the roots by the periodontal ligament . It is uniformly radiopaque ( or lighter ) . Integrity of the lamina dura is important when studying radiographs for pathological lesions . The alveolar bone or process is divided into the alveolar bone proper and the supporting alveolar bone . Microscopically , both the alveolar bone proper and the supporting alveolar bone have the same components : fibers , cells , intercellular substances , nerves , blood vessels , and lymphatics . The alveolar bone proper is the lining of the tooth socket or alveolus ( plural , alveoli ) . Although the alveolar bone proper is composed of compact bone , it may be called the cribriform plate because it contains numerous holes where Volkmann canals pass from the alveolar bone into the PDL . The alveolar bone proper is also called bundle bone because Sharpey fibers , a part of the fibers of the PDL , are inserted here . Similar to those of the cemental surface , Sharpey fibers in alveolar bone proper are each inserted at 90 degrees , or at a right angle , but are fewer in number , although thicker in diameter than those present in cementum . As in cellular cementum , Sharpey fibers in bone are generally mineralized only partially at their periphery . The alveolar crest is the most cervical rim of the alveolar bone proper . In a healthy situation , the alveolar crest is slightly apical to the cementoenamel junction ( CEJ ) by approximately 1.5 to 2 mm . The alveolar crests of neighboring teeth are also uniform in height along the jaw in healthy situation . The supporting alveolar bone consists of both cortical bone and trabecular bone . The cortical bone , or cortical plates , consists of plates of compact bone on the facial and lingual surfaces of the alveolar bone . These cortical plates are usually about 1.5 to 3 mm thick over posterior teeth , but the thickness is highly variable around anterior teeth . The trabecular bone consists of cancellous bone that is located between the alveolar bone proper and the plates of cortical bone . The alveolar bone between two neighboring teeth is the interdental septum ( or interdental bone ) . Features ( edit ) The mineral content of alveolar bone is mostly calcium hydroxyapatite , which is similar to that found in higher percentages in both enamel and dentin , but is most similar to the levels in cementum ( 50 % ) . Like all bone , mature alveolar bone is by weight 60 % mineralized or inorganic material , 25 % organic material , and 15 % water . The minerals of potassium , manganese , magnesium , silica , iron , zinc , selenium , boron , phosphorus , sulfur , chromium , and others are also present but in smaller amounts . Alveolar bone is more easily remodeled than cementum , thus allowing orthodontic tooth movement . When viewing a stained histological section , the remodeled alveolar bone shows arrest lines and reversal lines , as does all bone tissue . Clinical significance ( edit ) Developmental disturbances ( edit ) The developmental disturbance of anodontia ( or hypodontia , if only one tooth ) , in which tooth germs are congenitally absent , may affect the development of the alveolar processes . This occurrence can prevent the alveolar processes of either the maxillae or the mandible from developing . Proper development is impossible because the alveolar unit of each dental arch must form in response to the tooth germs in the area . Pathology ( edit ) After extraction of a tooth , the clot in the alveolus fills in with immature bone , which later is remodeled into mature secondary bone . However , with the loss of teeth , a patient becomes edentulous , either partially or completely , and the alveolar bone undergoes resorption . The underlying basal bone of the body of the maxilla or mandible remains less affected , however , because it does not need the presence of teeth to remain viable . The loss of alveolar bone , coupled with attrition of the teeth , causes a loss of height of the lower third of the vertical dimension of the face when the teeth are in maximum intercuspation . The extent of this loss is determined based on clinical judgment using the Golden Proportions . The density of the alveolar bone in a given area also determines the route that dental infection takes with abscess formation , as well as the efficacy of local infiltration during the use of local anesthesia . In addition , the differences in alveolar process density determine the easiest and most convenient areas of bony fracture to be used , if needed during tooth extraction of impacted teeth . During chronic periodontal disease that has affected the periodontium ( periodontitis ) , localized bone tissue is also lost . Additional images ( edit ) This X-ray film reveals some bone loss on the right side of the mandible . The associated teeth exhibit poor crown - to - root ratios and may be subject to secondary occlusal trauma . Alveolar process Alveolar process of maxilla Alveolar process of mandible See also ( edit ) Dental alveolus Periodontium Periodontal disease References ( edit ) Jump up ^ Entry `` alveolar '' in Merriam - Webster Online Dictionary ^ Jump up to : Ten Cate 's Oral Histology , Nanci , Elsevier , 2013 , page 219 ^ Jump up to : Illustrated Dental Embryology , Histology , and Anatomy , Bath - Balogh and Fehrenbach , Elsevier , 2011 , page 176 External links ( edit ) Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton / alveolarprocess `` Anatomy diagram : 34256.000 - 1 '' . Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator . Elsevier . Archived from the original on 2014 - 01 - 01 . Diagram at case.edu Dentistry involving supporting structures of teeth ( Periodontology ) Anatomy Periodontium Alveolar bone Biologic width Bundle bone Cementum Free gingival margin Gingiva Gingival fibers Gingival sulcus Junctional epithelium Mucogingival junction Periodontal ligament Sulcular epithelium Stippling Disease Diagnoses Chronic periodontitis Localized aggressive periodontitis Generalized aggressive periodontitis Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic disease Periodontosis Necrotizing periodontal diseases Abscesses of the periodontium Combined periodontic - endodontic lesions Infection A. actinomycetemcomitans Capnocytophaga sp . F. nucleatum P. gingivalis P. intermedia T. forsythia T. denticola Red complex Entamoeba gingivalis Trichomonas tenax Other Calculus Clinical attachment loss Edentulism Fremitus Furcation defect Gingival enlargement Gingival pocket Gingival recession Gingivitis Horizontal bony defect Linear gingival erythema Occlusal trauma Periodontal pocket Periodontal disease Periodontitis Plaque Vertical bony defect Treatment and prevention Periodontal examination Ante 's law Brushing Bleeding on probing Chlorhexidine gluconate Flossing Hydrogen peroxide Mouthwash Oral hygiene Tetracycline Triclosan Host modulatory therapy Treatment Conventional therapy Debridement Scaling and root planing Full mouth disinfection Full mouth ultrasonic debridement Surgery Apically positioned flap Bone graft Coronally positioned flap Crown lengthening Open flap debridement Gingival graft Gingivectomy Guided bone regeneration Guided tissue regeneration Enamel matrix derivative Implant placement Lateral pedicle graft Pocket reduction surgery Socket preservation Sinus lift Subepithelial connective tissue graft Tools Curette Membrane Probe Scaler Important personalities Tomas Albrektsson Frank Beube Per - Ingvar Brånemark Robert Gottsegen Gary Greenstein Jan Lindhe Brian Mealey Preston D. Miller Willoughby D. Miller Carl E. Misch John Mankey Riggs Jay Seibert Jørgen Slots Paul Roscoe Stillman Dennis P. Tarnow Hom - Lay Wang James Leon Williams W.J. Younger Other specialties Endodontology Orthodontology Prosthodontology The facial skeleton of the skull Maxilla Surfaces Anterior : fossae ( Incisive fossa , Canine fossa ) Infraorbital foramen Anterior nasal spine Infratemporal : Alveolar canals Maxillary tuberosity Orbital : Infraorbital groove Infraorbital canal Nasal : Greater palatine canal Processes Zygomatic process Frontal process ( Agger nasi , Anterior lacrimal crest ) Alveolar process Palatine process ( Incisive foramen , Incisive canals , Foramina of Scarpa , Incisive bone , Anterior nasal spine ) Other Body of maxilla Maxillary sinus Zygomatic Orbital process ( Zygomatico - orbital ) Temporal process ( Zygomaticotemporal ) Lateral process ( Zygomaticofacial ) Palatine Fossae Pterygopalatine fossa Pterygoid fossa Plates Horizontal plate ( Posterior nasal spine ) Perpendicular plate ( Greater palatine canal , Sphenopalatine foramen ) Processes Pyramidal Orbital Sphenoidal Mandible Body external surface ( Mandibular symphysis , Lingual foramen , Mental protuberance , Mental foramen , Mandibular incisive canal ) internal surface ( Mental spine , Mylohyoid line , Sublingual fovea , Submandibular fovea ) Alveolar part Ramus Mylohyoid groove Mandibular canal Lingula Mandibular foramen Angle Coronoid process Mandibular notch Condyloid process Pterygoid fovea Nose Nasal bone Internasal suture Nasal foramina Inferior nasal concha Ethmoidal process Maxillary process Vomer Wing Other Lacrimal Posterior lacrimal crest Lacrimal groove Lacrimal hamulus Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alveolar_process&oldid=825169750 '' Categories : Bones of the head and neck Dental anatomy Mouth Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Tools Català Deutsch Español Français Galego Magyar 日本 語 Português Русский Slovenščina 3 more Edit links This page was last edited on 11 February 2018 , at 22 : 01 . 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the radiographic term used to describe the more radiopaque bone of the socket and septal crest is
Alveolar process Left maxilla . Outer surface . ( Alveolar process visible at bottom . ) Cartilages of the nose , seen from below . ( Alveolar process of maxilla visible at bottom . Details Identifiers Latin Processus alveolaris TA A02. 1.12. 035 FMA 52897 Anatomical terms of bone ( edit on Wikidata ) Alveolar process Left maxilla . Outer surface . ( Alveolar process visible at bottom . ) Cartilages of the nose , seen from below . ( Alveolar process of maxilla visible at bottom . Details Identifiers Latin Processus alveolaris TA A02. 1.12. 035 FMA 52897 Anatomical terms of bone ( edit on Wikidata ) The alveolar process ( / ælˈviːələr / ) ( alveolar bone ) is the thickened ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets ( dental alveoli ) on bones that hold teeth . In humans , the tooth - bearing bones are the maxillae and the mandible . On the maxillae , the alveolar process is a ridge on the inferior surface , and on the mandible it is a ridge on the superior surface . It makes up the thickest part of the maxillae . The alveolar process contains a region of compact bone adjacent to the periodontal ligament ( PDL ) , which is called the lamina dura when viewed on radiographs . It is this part which is attached to the cementum of the roots by the periodontal ligament . It is uniformly radiopaque ( or lighter ) . Integrity of the lamina dura is important when studying radiographs for pathological lesions . The alveolar bone or process is divided into the alveolar bone proper and the supporting alveolar bone . Microscopically , both the alveolar bone proper and the supporting alveolar bone have the same components : fibers , cells , intercellular substances , nerves , blood vessels , and lymphatics . The alveolar bone proper is the lining of the tooth socket or alveolus ( plural , alveoli ) . Although the alveolar bone proper is composed of compact bone , it may be called the cribriform plate because it contains numerous holes where Volkmann canals pass from the alveolar bone into the PDL . The alveolar bone proper is also called bundle bone because Sharpey fibers , a part of the fibers of the PDL , are inserted here . Similar to those of the cemental surface , Sharpey fibers in alveolar bone proper are each inserted at 90 degrees , or at a right angle , but are fewer in number , although thicker in diameter than those present in cementum . As in cellular cementum , Sharpey fibers in bone are generally mineralized only partially at their periphery . The alveolar crest is the most cervical rim of the alveolar bone proper . In a healthy situation , the alveolar crest is slightly apical to the cementoenamel junction ( CEJ ) by approximately 1.5 to 2 mm . The alveolar crests of neighboring teeth are also uniform in height along the jaw in healthy situation . The supporting alveolar bone consists of both cortical bone and trabecular bone . The cortical bone , or cortical plates , consists of plates of compact bone on the facial and lingual surfaces of the alveolar bone . These cortical plates are usually about 1.5 to 3 mm thick over posterior teeth , but the thickness is highly variable around anterior teeth . The trabecular bone consists of cancellous bone that is located between the alveolar bone proper and the plates of cortical bone . The alveolar bone between two neighboring teeth is the interdental septum ( or interdental bone ) . The mineral content of alveolar bone is mostly calcium hydroxyapatite , which is similar to that found in higher percentages in both enamel and dentin , but is most similar to the levels in cementum ( 50 % ) . Like all bone , mature alveolar bone is by weight 60 % mineralized or inorganic material , 25 % organic material , and 15 % water . The minerals of potassium , manganese , magnesium , silica , iron , zinc , selenium , boron , phosphorus , sulfur , chromium , and others are also present but in smaller amounts . Alveolar bone is more easily remodeled than cementum , thus allowing orthodontic tooth movement . When viewing a stained histological section , the remodeled alveolar bone shows arrest lines and reversal lines , as does all bone tissue . The developmental disturbance of anodontia ( or hypodontia , if only one tooth ) , in which tooth germs are congenitally absent , may affect the development of the alveolar processes . This occurrence can prevent the alveolar processes of either the maxillae or the mandible from developing . Proper development is impossible because the alveolar unit of each dental arch must form in response to the tooth germs in the area . After extraction of a tooth , the clot in the alveolus fills in with immature bone , which later is remodeled into mature secondary bone . However , with the loss of teeth , a patient becomes edentulous , either partially or completely , and the alveolar bone undergoes resorption . The underlying basal bone of the body of the maxilla or mandible remains less affected , however , because it does not need the presence of teeth to remain viable . The loss of alveolar bone , coupled with attrition of the teeth , causes a loss of height of the lower third of the vertical dimension of the face when the teeth are in maximum intercuspation . The extent of this loss is determined based on clinical judgment using the Golden Proportions . The density of the alveolar bone in a given area also determines the route that dental infection takes with abscess formation , as well as the efficacy of local infiltration during the use of local anesthesia . In addition , the differences in alveolar process density determine the easiest and most convenient areas of bony fracture to be used , if needed during tooth extraction of impacted teeth . During chronic periodontal disease that has affected the periodontium ( periodontitis ) , localized bone tissue is also lost . This X-ray film reveals some bone loss on the right side of the mandible . The associated teeth exhibit poor crown - to - root ratios and may be subject to secondary occlusal trauma . Alveolar process Alveolar process of maxilla Alveolar process of mandible This X-ray film reveals some bone loss on the right side of the mandible . The associated teeth exhibit poor crown - to - root ratios and may be subject to secondary occlusal trauma . This X-ray film reveals some bone loss on the right side of the mandible . The associated teeth exhibit poor crown - to - root ratios and may be subject to secondary occlusal trauma . Alveolar process Alveolar process of maxilla Alveolar process of maxilla Alveolar process of mandible Alveolar process of mandible