Definition

Noun 1. The process of bone loss or deterioration in the jawbone that forms the tooth socket: Specifically refers to the gradual breakdown and reduction of the alveolar bone, which is the part of the jaw that holds the roots of teeth in place. This process often occurs after tooth loss or due to periodontal disease.

Usage

• This is a technical medical and dental term.
• It is used to describe a pathological condition, not a normal process.
• It is typically used in clinical diagnoses, patient education, and scientific literature concerning dentistry and oral health.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Following the extraction, the dentist monitored the site for signs of alveolar resorption.
  • Severe periodontitis can lead to significant alveolar resorption and eventual tooth mobility.
  • The study measured the rate of alveolar resorption in patients over a five-year period.

Advanced Usage

• "Ridge resorption": A common synonym in dentistry, specifically referring to the resorption of the alveolar ridge (the bony crest left after tooth loss).
• The term is often quantified or described with adjectives indicating severity, such as , , , , or .

Variants and Related Words

• Resorb (verb): To undergo or cause resorption.
• Alveolar (adjective): Pertaining to the alveolus, especially the tooth socket.
• Alveolus (noun): A small cavity or socket, such as a tooth socket or an air sac in the lungs.

Synonyms

• Bone resorption (of the alveolar ridge)
• Alveolar bone loss
• Ridge resorption
• Atrophy of the alveolar process

Antonyms

• Alveolar bone regeneration
• Bone apposition
• Osteogenesis (in the alveolar context)

Noun

1. wasting of the bony socket