Etymology
- The word 'alveolus' comes from Latin, meaning a tray, trough, basin, or bed of a small river.
- It is derived from the Latin word 'alvus,' which means belly, stomach, paunch, bowels, hold of a ship.
- The word 'alveolus' is also related to the PIE root *aulo-, which means hole or cavity.
- In Greek, 'aulos' refers to a flute, tube, or pipe.
- Other languages, such as Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Russian, use variations of the word 'ulica' to mean street, originally a narrow opening.
Socket preservation
- Socket preservation or alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is a procedure to reduce bone loss after tooth extraction.
- The goal is to preserve the dental alveolus (tooth socket) in the alveolar bone.
- Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane or graft material/scaffold can be used to enhance bone growth.
- The socket is closed with stitches or covered with a non-resorbable or resorbable membrane.
- This procedure helps maintain the structure and volume of the alveolar ridge for future dental procedures.
Pathology
- Swelling of the dental alveoli can lead to alveolitis, causing pain and discomfort in the mouth.
- Alveolitis is a condition that occurs after tooth extraction.
- It is characterised by inflammation and infection of the alveolar socket.
- Alveolitis can delay the healing process and require additional treatment.
- Proper oral hygiene and post-extraction care can help prevent alveolitis.
Related concepts
- Alveolar ridge is the bony ridge that contains the dental alveoli.
- It supports the teeth and provides stability for dental prosthetics.
- Polyphyodont refers to animals that continuously replace their teeth throughout their lives.
- Polyphyodont dentition is common in many reptiles and fish.
- Understanding alveolar ridge preservation is important for successful dental implant placement.
References
- Peck, Mogammad Thabit; Marnewick, Johan; Stephen, Lawrence (2011). Alveolar Ridge Preservation Using Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A Report of a Case.
- Khiste, Sujeet Vinayak; Naik Tari, Ritam (2013). Platelet-Rich Fibrin as a Biofuel for Tissue Regeneration.
- Tassos Irinakis, Rationale for Socket Preservation after Extraction of a Single-Rooted Tooth when Planning for Future Implant Placement, Journal of Canadian Dental Association 2006; 72(10):917–922.
- Fickl, Stefan; Zuhr, Otto; Wachtel, Hannes; Stappert, Christian F. J.; Stein, Jamal M.; Hürzeler, Markus B. (2008). Dimensional changes of the alveolar ridge contour after different socket preservation techniques.
- Extraction socket preservation: The time is now (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
Dental alveoli (singular alveolus) are sockets in the jaws in which the roots of teeth are held in the alveolar process with the periodontal ligament. The lay term for dental alveoli is tooth sockets. A joint that connects the roots of the teeth and the alveolus is called gomphosis (plural gomphoses). Alveolar bone is the bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth forming bone sockets.
| Dental alveolus | |
|---|---|
 Alveola of the second premolar tooth in a bovine maxillary bone | |
| Details | |
| Artery | Anterior superior alveolar arteries, Posterior superior alveolar artery, Inferior alveolar artery |
| Nerve | Anterior superior alveolar nerve, Posterior superior alveolar nerve, Inferior alveolar nerve |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | alveolus dentalis |
| MeSH | D020390 |
| TA98 | A03.1.03.008 |
| FMA | 57490 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
In mammals, tooth sockets are found in the maxilla, the premaxilla, and the mandible.
dental alveolus (plural dental alveoli)
