Dental alveolus

Dental alveolus (plural, alveoli) are sockets in the jaws in which the roots of teeth are held in the alveolar process of maxilla 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).

In mammals, tooth sockets are found in the maxilla, the premaxilla and the mandible.

Pathology

The swelling of the dental alveoli can result in alveolitis, causing pain and discomfort to the mouth.

References

• National Institute of Health, CRISP Database
• Merck Manual dictionary

External links

• tooth+socket at eMedicine Dictionary