HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What aspect of dental terminology refers to the surgical shaping of bone?

1. Osteoplasty

2. Alveoloplasty

3. Bone grafting

4. Sinus lift

The correct answer is: Alveoloplasty

The aspect of dental terminology that refers to the surgical shaping of bone is alveoloplasty. This procedure specifically involves modifying the alveolar ridge of the jaw, which is the bone that contains the sockets of the teeth. It is often performed to enhance the fit for dentures, prepare for dental implants, or improve overall jaw structure. Alveoloplasty may involve reshaping the bone contours to achieve a more natural appearance and function, especially after tooth extractions or when preparing the mouth for prosthetic devices. This differentiates it from other procedures that may involve bone but do not focus on the specific shaping of the jawbone related to the dental arches. While osteoplasty is a general term for shaping or reshaping bone and could also relate to dental procedures, it does not specifically target the alveolar bone, thereby making alveoloplasty the more precise term in this context. Bone grafting is intended to augment bone volume or density rather than to shape existing bone, and a sinus lift is a specific type of surgical procedure performed to increase the height of the bone in the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars, which also does not primarily focus on shaping.