What is an Alveolar bone?

Alveolar bone(also called as alveolar process) is a part of the jaws which forms and protects the sockets for the teeth. Its the thickened part of the ridge of the jaws.
Maxillary alveolar process is the ridge present on the superior surface, and the mandibular alveolar process is the ridge seen on the inferior surface. The alveolar process is the thickest region in the jaw.

The alveolar process is the bony part and it has 2 parts on its own -
1. Alveolar bone proper
2. Supporting alveolar bone

Alveolar bone proper is present just adjacent the tooth socket around the root and it gives the attachment to the periodontal ligament fibers, which are the principle fibers. These fibers which enter the bone are regarded as Sharpey’s fibers. And the bone which is the lodgement site for the fibers is called as the Bundle bone.