The alveolar processes are arguably the most crucial anatomical structure in the dental implant industry. The alveolar process is the thick ridge of bone in the jaw that holds the dental alveoli, or tooth sockets. The dental alveoli hold the roots of the teeth in place, and in case of a dental implant, the alveolar process holds implant hardware in place. There are two alveolar processes — the alveolar process of maxilla is on the top part of the mouth, just under the maxillary sinus, and the alveolar process of mandible is on the lower part of the mouth, just above the jawbone. Healthy, strong alveolar processes are crucial to successful dental implants, and in cases of tooth extraction, this bone can be reduced between 30-60%. When there’s not enough bone to support implant hardware in the alveolar process, bone grafting is typically done. Often, alveolar preservation will be used after an extraction when an implant is imminent.