ALVEOLAR BONE
 Provides mechanical support
Periodontium
Consists of 4 connective tissue:
a. Two mineralized
1. alveolar bone
2. cementum
b. Two fibrous
3. periodontal ligament
4. lamina propia of gingiva
BONE
Bone Tissue
 It is a specialized form of connective
tissue and is the main element of the
skeletal tissues.
 It is composed of cells and an
extracellular in which fibers are
embedded.
 It is unlike other tissues in that the
extracellular matrix becomes calcified.
2 Types of bone tissue
1. Compact (Cortical) bone
2. Spongy (Cancellous) bone
FUNCTIONS OF BONE TISSUE
 Provides levers for the action of
muscles/help in locomotion
 Serves as site for storage of calcium in
the body
 Protects vital organs
 Encloses the blood forming elements of
the bone marrow
CLASSIFICATION OF BONE
Bone may be classified in several ways:
A. Manner of Development
- Endochondral bone
- Intramembranous bone
B. Histologically
- Compact (Cortical) Bone
- Spongy (Cancellous) Bone
C. By shape
- Long bones
- Flat bones
- Short bones
- Irregular bones
TYPES OF BONES ACCORDING TO THE MANNER
OF DEVELOPMENT
1. Intramembranous or Membrane bone
 Develop directly from the
mesenchyme without the
intervention of the cartilage
 Examples are: flat bones of the
skull and face (part of the
maxilla and mandible)
2. Endochondral or Substitution bone
 Develop within fetal hyaline
cartilages
 Pass cartilage development first
then calcifies to bones
 Examples are: all bones except
the flat bones of the skull and
face
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BONE B. Bone Matrix
 is the intercellular substance of
60% Inorganic material
bone consisting of collagenous
 formed from carbonated fibers, ground substance and
hydroxyapatite inorganic salts
C. Blood vessels, nerves, lymph vessels
25% Organic material
ALVEOLAR BONE / ALVEOLAR PROCESS
 mainly composed of Type I collagen
 the organic part is also composed of Alveolar bone
various growth factors:
 Is the bony portions of the maxilla
 glycosaminoglycans
and mandible in which the roots of
 osteocalcin
the functioning teeth are located
 osteonectin
 Morphology depends on the size,
15% Water shape and position of teeth

STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF BONE

A. Bone cells
 Osteoprogenitor cells
undifferentiated cells that will
develop into osteoblasts
 Osteoblasts – synthesize and
secrete the matrix that will calcify
to form the bone’s extracellular
matrix
 Osteocytes – mature bone cells.
These are osteoblasts that have
become embedded in calcified bone
matrix; reside in lacuna
 Osteoclasts – these destroy the
Development of Alveolar Bone
matrix, called bone resorption
- this function is important in  Alveolar bone develops from the dental
development, growth, follicle
maintenance and repair of bone.  The ectomesenchymal cells of the dental
follicle differentiate into osteoblasts
and lay down the matrix called osteoid
 Some osteoblasts become embedded in
the matrix and are called osteocytes
  Near the end of the 2nd month of fetal
life, mandible and maxilla form a groove
that is opened toward the surface of the
oral cavity.
 As tooth germs start to develop, bony
septa form gradually. The alveolar
process starts developing strictly during
tooth eruption.

ALVEOLAR BONE

 Also called ALVEOLAR PROCESS

 The specialized bone structure that
contains the alveoli or sockets of the
teeth and supports the teeth.
 If the teeth are lost/removed, the
alveolar process undergoes atrophy /
disappears.
FUNCTIONS OF ALVEOLAR BONE

Protection

 Alveolar bone forms and protects the

sockets for the teeth

Attachment

 It gives the attachment to the

periodontal ligament fibers, which are
the principal fibers. These fibers which  It is composed mainly of two parts:
enter the bone are regarded as 1. Alveolar bone proper
Sharpey’s fibers. 2. Supporting alveolar bone

Support Two Parts of Alveolar Bone

 It supports the tooth roots on the facial 1. Alveolar Bone Proper

and on the palatal / lingual sides
Shock- absorber
 It helps absorb the forces placed upon
the tooth by disseminating the force to
underlying tissues.
 Thin lamellated bone that surrounds
the root of the tooth and gives
attachment to the periodontal ligament
fiber
 forms the inner wall
 from the alveolar bone into the PDL
(periodontal ligament)
 Numerous Sharpey’s fibers pass
through it
 Transmit nerves & vessels

BUNDLE BONE

 It is the histologic term for that portion

of the alveolar process that surrounds
the teeth and where periodontal
ligament fibers are inserted (attached).
Lamina Dura
 Bundle of principal fibers are inserted
as:  it is the radiographic appearance of
- Sharpey’s fibers – principal fibers of alveolar bone proper
the periodontal ligament that are  Appears as a dense white line
embedded in the bone or (radiopaque) on radiographs
cementum  An intact, continuous lamina dura on
 Sharpey’s fibers are seen perpendicular the radiograph is a sign of a healthy
to the bundle bone periodontium.
 Other fibrils are less and are arranged
parallel to the bundle bone surface

Cribriform plate

 Although the alveolar process is CRIBRIFORM PLATE VS LAMINA DURA

composed of compact bone, it may be
called Cribriform plate, because
anatomically, it contains numerous
holes where Volkmann canals pass
 2. Supporting Alveolar Bone
 surrounds the alveolar bone proper
 gives support to socket
 Consists of two parts:
- Cortical plates
- Spongiosa (Spongy Bone)
Cortical plates
 Are made up of compact bone & form
the outer and inner plates of alveolar
bone.
 Cortical bone varies in thickness in
different areas.
 Compact bone
 forms inner & outer plates of alveolar
process
 Variations
 Maxilla – thinner
 Mandible – thicker
 Premolar - Molar region – thicker
 Anterior region – thin
 Buccal cortical plate – thick
 Lingual cortical plate – thinner
 Relation to Local anaethesia:
Maxilla
- perforated by many openings
- Local infiltration is sufficient
Mandible
- Dense cortical plate
- Nerve Blocks required
Dehiscence
 Is lack of cortical bone at the level of a
dental root, at least 4mm apical to the
margin of the interproximal bone.
(Measurement is done by the use of a
graduated periodontal probe)
Fenestration
 Is identified as a localized defect in the
alveolar bone that exposed the root
surface, usually the apical or the middle
3rd, but did not involve the alveolar
margin.
SPONGIOSA (Spongy Bone)
 Spongy bone fills the area between the
cortical plates and the alveolar bone
proper
 It contains trabeculae of bone and
marrow spaces.
 Types of spongy bone:
- Type I: the trabeculae are regular
and horizontal like a ladder. This is
seen most commonly in the
mandible
 - Type II: irregularly arranged,
delicate and numerous trabeculae.
Seen mostly in the maxilla.
 The spongy bone is very thin or absent
in the anterior regions of both the jaws.
Alveolar Socket
 Also called Dental alveolus
 These are sockets in the jaws in which
the roots of teeth are held in the
alveolar process with the periodontal
ligament

*Alveolar socket of the second premolar tooth

in a maxillary bone

Interdental Septa
 Fills space between Alveolar Bone
Proper and Cortical bone  “Septa” – in Latin, it means “fence” or
“wall”
 Variations:
Maxilla – more  Are plates of bone that separate each
Mandible – less individual sockets from one another
 In the anterior region, both jaws,
Spongiosa is absent

Interradicular Septa

 are thin plates of bone that separate

the roots of multi-rooted teeth
ALVEOLAR CREST

 The rim of the socket

 most prominent border of the
interdental septum
 formed when the inner and outer
cortical plates meet
 the margin is thin & knife edged

Clinical Considerations

 When extracting maxillary teeth:

 It is easier.
 Local infiltration is sufficient, no
need to anesthetize the entire
quadrant.
 When there is infection in alveolar
bone, radiographic findings will show
loss of lamina dura, or there will be a
break in the lamina dura. (it is supposed
to be a continuous dense white line)
 Periodontal disease results in
destruction of alveolar bone, which
could cause tooth mobility, and
eventually loss of tooth or teeth due to
lack of or no alveolar bone support.

Vascular Supply of the Alveolar Process

 Alveolar process of the maxilla—

ANTERIOR and POSTERIOR ALVEOLAR
ARTERIES (branch from the maxilla and
infraorbital arteries)
 Alveolar process of the mandible—
INFERIOR ALVEOLAR ARTERY (internal)
PERIOSTEAL BRANCHES of SUBMENTAL
AND BUCCAL ARTERIES (external)
Age changes in alveolar bone

 As people age, alveolar bone loss may

happen, as confirmed in radiographs.
 Bone may become thinner and
resorption may occur in alveolar bone.
 Resorption may be linked with damage
to the jaw or loss of teeth, which is one
reason why extraction of teeth needs to
be avoided.
 With loss of teeth and resorption, the
alveolar ridge becomes very close to
mental foramen in the mandibular arch,
and also maxillary sinus in the upper
jaw.
 Alveolar sockets appear jagged and
uneven.
 The alveolar process in edentulous
jaws decrease in size.