Components of the Alveolar Bone

jaw
  Cortical bone
  Supporting bone
  Alveolar bone proper
  Alveolus
  Periosteum
Components of the Alveolar Bone
Cortical bone
  Forms the hard, outside
wall of the mandible and
maxilla on the facial and
lingual aspects
  Buccal cortical bone
  Thin in the incisor,
canine, and premolar
regions
  Thicker in the molar
regions
Components of the Alveolar Bone
Defects of cortical bone
  Fenestration
  Window-like defect in
the cortical bone
  Results in an isolated
area of the root that is
not covered by bone
  Dehiscence
  Cleft-like defect in the
cortical bone
  Includes bone margin
Components of the Alveolar Bone

Supporting Bone
  Lattice-like bone
  Fills interior portion of the
alveolar process
  Between the cortical bone
and the alveolar bone
proper
  Also known as spongy
bone, cancellous bone
Components of the Alveolar Bone
Alveolar bone proper
  Thin layer of bone that lines
each alveolus
  In radiographs, the alveolar
bone proper is identified as
the lamina dura
  Contains numerous holes
that allow the blood vessels
from the cancellous bone to
connect with the vessels of
the periodontal ligament
space
Components of the Alveolar Bone
Alveolus
  The alveolus is the bony
socket in the alveolar bone
  It is the cavity in the
alveolar bone that houses
the root(s) of a tooth

  Alveolus (singular)
  Alveoli (plural)
Components of the Alveolar Bone
Periosteum
  The thin layer of
connective tissue that
covers bone and is
overlaid by the soft tissue
(gingiva or alveolar
mucosa)