Anatomy and conditions
Alveolar bone
Also called jawbone, tooth socket bone
The part of the jawbone that holds the roots of the teeth.
Alveolar bone is the ridge of jawbone that forms the sockets in which tooth roots sit. It stays healthy partly because the teeth stimulate it. Gum disease can destroy it, and bone often shrinks after a tooth is removed. Losing bone can make implants and dentures harder, which is why grafts are sometimes done. You might see the term on X-ray notes or in a specialist's referral.
Example at the front desk
The specialist needs to see if there's enough alveolar bone, so I booked the scan before the implant consult.