The parts of the jaws on which the teeth are placed are called alveolar. They consist of bone tissue (from its compact and spongy substance). They contain holes in which the rudiments of teeth are born. They grow over time. The bone tissue around develops, so that the teeth have additional support. This area of the jaw is called the alveolar process.
If we consider the area by segments, then for each tooth we can distinguish the hole in which it is located, and the bone formations around with mucous membranes. Feeding vessels, nerves and bundles of connective tissue fibers fit into the socket.
Alveolus
What is a tooth hole? This is a depression in the bone tissue of the jaws, which is formed at birth. The difference in the teeth on the lower and upper jaws is practically not noticeable. More they differ in purpose: incisors, canines, molars. Different groups perceive different loads when chewing food.
Front, the alveolar processes of the jaws are thinner, and from the sides (places for chewing) they are thicker and more powerful. Dental sockets also differ in shape. They may have partitions located slightly deeper than the sidejumpers. This division is associated with a different structure of the roots of the teeth. Some of them can be kept on one trunk, or they can have two or three of them.
The alveolus exactly repeats the size and shape of the tooth. Rather, it grows in it, increases in size, changes the direction of the root canals. The bone tissue of the alveolar processes surrounding each tooth, adjusting to it, grows in the same rhythm. If it does not fit snugly, then very soon the incisors and molars, which perceive the greatest load, will begin to stagger and fall out.
Alveolar processes
Normally, these areas of bone tissue around the teeth develop in each person in the process of growing up. However, in some genetic disorders, the alveolar process may not grow.
One of these cases is a pathology in which tooth germs are not formed at all in the process of embryonic development. Such situations are quite rare. Naturally, teeth do not grow in this case. The part of the jaw bone, which under normal conditions would become a platform for the alveolar processes, does not develop either. Actually, the border between these formations is practically lost during normal development. The bones of the jaw and process are actually fused.
From this we can conclude that the process of their formation is directly related to the presence of teeth. Moreover, when they fall out or are removed, the bone tissue in this place gradually loses its properties. It softens, turning into a gelatinous body, decreases in volume, reaching the edgesjawbone.
Features
The alveolar process of the upper jaw consists of an inner (lingual) and an outer (labial or buccal) wall. Between them is a spongy substance, in composition and properties close to bone tissue. The bones of the jaws are different. From above, they are formed from two fused halves. A bridge of connective tissue runs through the middle.
In the terminology, you can also find the concept of "alveolar part". In this case, the process on the lower jaw is implied. Its bone is not paired, it has no connection in the middle. But apart from this, the structure of the processes is not much different. The lingual, labial and buccal walls are also distinguished below.
It can be noted that the alveolar process of the lower jaw is less susceptible to fractures. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that in most people the upper teeth cover the lower ones and are the first to take a traumatic load. On the other hand, the walls of the anterior processes are slightly longer and thinner from above. In addition, the dense compact substance of the tissue in this place is more permeated with pores for conducting vessels and nerve endings. Because it is less dense and durable.
Problems: Diagnostics
Teeth undergo changes in the course of a person's life. Not only are they getting smaller, but their mobility is also increasing. The bone tissue around them slowly degrades (resorption). The part that perceives the load is more susceptible to this. For fractures to determine the degreedamage to the alveolar processes of the jaws is often not possible to palpate without anesthesia. These areas are densely permeated with a network of nerve endings, and therefore painful.
Such areas, as well as foci of age-related destruction (destruction), sclerotic changes (replacement of connective bone tissue) and manifestations of osteomyelitis are diagnosed by X-ray in various projections. In some cases (tumors), an MRI is prescribed, studies of the maxillary sinuses using a contrast agent. Obvious problems of growth and development of the jaws, as well as their processes are comprehensively diagnosed.
Atrophy
Jaw processes are bone formations to support teeth in sockets. If they fall out, the need for processes disappears. There is nothing more to support, the spongy substance, not feeling the load, collapses. With anodontia (a genetic pathology of the absence of the rudiments of teeth from birth), the alveolar processes do not develop, although the jaws are formed.
Atrophic processes proceed with individual characteristics. In some, the height decreases faster, in others, more slowly. Atrophy of the alveolar process in the upper jaw leads to the formation of an almost flat palate. From below, this leads to a noticeable protrusion of the chin. The jaws close more and, without prosthetics, acquire a characteristic “senile” look.
Atrophy can also be caused by inflammatory processes. The most dangerous are periodontitis, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis. Cervical caries also causes dystrophyfabrics. May cause atrophy and periodontal disease. Despite the apparent simplicity of this disease, in the absence of a response, the trophism of the mucosa and processes is disturbed, interdental pockets appear, the neck of the tooth is exposed, it begins to loosen and falls out.
Alveolar cleft
Such a pathology appears at the stage of embryonic development. At the age of about two months after conception, the bones of the skull are formed. By birth, they close and fit tightly to each other. Only a small indentation (dog's fossa) remains on the surface of the front of the jaw.
A combination of various factors (heredity, drug exposure, pesticides, alcoholism, smoking during pregnancy) can cause a situation where the paired bones of the sky do not connect and do not grow together, a cleft (cleft palate) is formed. It can be localized on the soft or hard palate, jaw bones, spread to the lip (cleft lip). Distinguish between complete or partial nonunion, lateral or median.
Alveolar process of the upper jaw with a cleft, as a rule, is a continuation of the unfused bones of the upper palate. Separately, this pathology is rare. On the lower jaw and its alveolar part, the cleft is almost never found.
Fracture
Jaw injury often ends with a knocked out tooth. The reasons may be mechanical injuries, unsuccessful falls, blows with a fist or a massive object. If the impact area is largerarea of one tooth, a fracture of the alveolar process is possible. The crack is often arched.
There are complete, partial and fragmental fractures. By localization, it can affect the roots of the teeth, fall on their necks, or be located above the zone of the alveolar processes - along the jawbone. The prognosis for natural fusion of bone tissue is complex and is given depending on the severity of the condition and localization. Fragments with damage in the root area most often do not take root.
In addition to pain and swelling of the affected area, its symptoms can be: malocclusion, speech distortion, difficulty chewing. If there is an open wound and the blood has a foamy structure, fragmentation of the walls of the maxillary sinuses is also expected.
Plasty of the alveolar process
They share the correction of conditions for congenital jaw pathologies, plastic surgery for fractures and bone augmentation for prosthetics. The absence of a tooth for a long time leads to atrophy of the bone tissue of the site. Its thickness may not be enough when installing fittings for mounting a false tooth. When drilling, perforation into the region of the maxillary sinuses is possible. To prevent this from happening, plastic surgery is performed. The alveolar process can be built up by placing an overlay on the surface of the jawbone, or using its dissection and filling with biomaterial.
Fixation of fragments in fractures is usually done with the help of splints and wire staples put on the teeth. Can be fixed through holes in the boneusing capron ligature. Contour plasty in the correction of defects in embryonic development consists in closing the opening by moving adjacent tissues to the required position and using implants. The operation should be carried out as early as possible so that the child has time to develop the speech apparatus.
