HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is the term for the surgical removal of alveolar bone crests?

1. Alveoplasty

2. Alveoectomy

3. Bite registration

4. Reduction

The correct answer is: Alveoectomy

The term for the surgical removal of alveolar bone crests is alveoectomy. This procedure specifically involves the excision of the bony structures that form the crest of the alveolar ridge, which is critical in various dental treatments, particularly those involving prosthetics or implants. By removing these bone crests, a dentist can reshape the oral cavity, improve the fit of dentures, or create a more favorable surgical site for implant placement. In contrast, alveoplasty, while related, refers to the surgical reshaping or smoothing of the bone structure after teeth have been removed, rather than the removal itself. Bite registration deals with capturing the relationship between the upper and lower jaws and does not involve surgical procedures on the alveolar bone. Reduction generally refers to the process of bringing a fractured bone back into alignment or diminishing the size of a structure, but it is not specific to the surgical removal of alveolar bone crests. Therefore, the correct term that directly addresses the procedure in question is alveoectomy.