Alveolar Ridges

It must be remembered that edentulous alveolar ridges are not natural structures. They are what is left of a bone after diseases and surgery have affected it. The alveolar ridges vary greatly in size and shape and their ultimate form is dependent on the following factors.

1. Development structure:the individual variation in bone size and its degree of calcification is great.
2. The size of the natural teeth: the teeth, like the bones, show wide individual variation in size. Large teeth are usually supported by bulky ridges, small teeth by narrow ones.
3. The amount of bone lost prior to the extraction of the teeth: periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth and results in destruction of the alveolar process. If the natural teeth are retained until gross alveolar loss has occurred the resultant alveolar ridges will be narrow and shallow.