On the part played by the socket in tooth support

Tooth movements are guided by specific contact areas between the tooth root and the jaw bone: A dynamic 3D microCT study of the rat molar

“…3) is that the initial part of the curve with the very low slope represents the resistance of the PDL tissues and the hydrostatic system, and the third part of the curve (with the high slope) represents mainly the resistance of the alveolar bone. The fact that the intermediate part of the curve is smooth and rounded may well be an indication that contact is in reality a series of progressive interactions that probably involves both highly compressed PDL soft tissues, blood vessels (Picton, 1990) and the alveolar bone in the contact area. We note from the microCT images that the alveolar bone in the furcation area has high porosity and that as opposed to the other two contact areas, the contacts there are small and isolated.…”

“…This behavior suggests initial low resistance to loads which gradually increases to a new, stiffer linear pattern. The PDL is almost certainly involved in the low resistance to loads (Picton, 1990), whereas evidence for the possible involvement of the alveolar bone in resisting especially the higher loads is equivocal (Picton, 1965). Relatively few studies have subsequently been conducted on whole tooth mechanical responses to load, and even fewer on teeth still residing in the mandible.…”

Non-carious cervical tooth surface loss: A literature review

“…Picton 25 reported that alveolar bone surrounding a tooth distorted under loads of less than 100 g. 25 Horizontal loads caused initially compression of the periodontal ligament and then dilatation of the alveolar bone. The labial plates tended to distort more than the lingual plates.…”

Determination of the Mechanical Properties of the Periodontal Ligament in a Uniaxial Tensional Experiment

“…Initial tooth movement under moderate forces is therefore governed mainly by expansion and compression of the periodontal ligament surrounding the tooth root. Only under high, non-functional forces do bone and root deformations play a role [10,15]. Körber [11] was one of the first authors to report that the limiting value of tooth displacement increases with decreasing loading velocity.…”