Age changes in the human inferior alveolar artery--a histological study.

The inferior alveolar artery was examined histologically in non-irradiated surgically resected mandibles. A total of 39 edentulous and 11 partially dentate specimens was studied. Narrowing of the lumen was most commonly due to arteriosclerosis which confirms previous reports. Stenosis was not found to be either commoner or more severe than that recorded in other arteries in the body. It is suggested that apparent narrowing of the inferior alveolar artery seen on angiography may represent a form of involutional atrophy of the artery associated with dental extraction and progressive resorption of the residual occlusal alveolar ridge.