Development of transalveolar fibres in alveolar bone of the mouse.

Transalveolar fibre development in the mandibles of albino mice aged 12-32 days postnatal was studied. Silver impregnation techniques revealed transalveolar fibres in the alveolar crest bone at day 14 and throughout the interdental septum at day 17. Collagen strains revealed transalveolar fibres in alveolar crest bone at day 19 and throughout the interdental bone by day 25. Changes in orientation occurred in transalveolar fibres of the alveolar crest at day 19 and in oblique transalveolar fibres at day 25. These changes were coincident with the eruption of the teeth and the development of functional occlusion.