Osteoporotic changes in the mandible increase with age. In the BNL the interradicular bone exhibits continuous remodeling throughout its life span. Marrow spaces of the alveolar bone also showed changes with advanced age. In man red marrow is replaced with fattty marrow. In mice the molars exhibit mesial drift, and resorption of periodontal process continues at the mesial surface.
Alveolar process becomes essentially free of vascular and marrow channels.
Periosteal and endosteal cells numbers decrease per unit of surface exposed. Active surface osteogenic cells are decreased, resembling fibrocytes. Endosteal cells generally reveal persistent activity, so that age changes are delayed at the interradicular region. Osteocyte changes are observed once formed. Matrix production continues to occur resulting inthe formation of definite lacunae.