[The specificity of bone resorption process in the maxilla and the mandible]

The jaws comprise the maxilla and the mandible which is a tooth-bearing bone. The part of them which supports and protects the teeth is well known as an alveolar bone. In an experimental model of alveolar bone resorption, bone resorption was obvious in the cancellous bone during the early period of the experiment and then the cortical bone was seen to resorb. However, the contour of mandible, the alveolar bone proper and thin layer of bone which surrounds the mandibular canal still remained. These results suggest that the process of alveolar bone resorption is related to the mechanical forces induced by the occlusal function of the tooth.