The alveolar process (/ælˈviːələr, ˌælviˈoʊlər, ˈælviələr/) is the portion of bone containing the tooth sockets on the jaw bones (in humans, the maxilla and the mandible). The alveolar process is covered by gums within the mouth, terminating roughly along the line of the mandibular canal. Partially comprising compact bone, it is penetrated by many small openings for blood vessels and connective fibres.

The bone is of clinical, phonetic and forensic significance.

The term alveolar (/ælˈviːələr/) ('hollow') refers to the cavities of the tooth sockets, known as dental alveoli. The alveolar process is also called the alveolar bone or alveolar ridge.

In phonetics, the term refers more specifically to the ridges on the inside of the mouth which can be felt with the tongue, either on roof of the mouth between the upper teeth and the hard palate or on the bottom of the mouth behind the lower teeth.

The curved portion of the process is referred to as the alveolar arch. The alveolar bone proper, also called bundle bone, directly surrounds the teeth.

The terms alveolar border, alveolar crest, and alveolar margin describe the extreme rim of the bone nearest to the crowns of the teeth.

The part of alveolar bone between two adjacent teeth is known as the interdental septum (or interdental bone).The connected, supporting area of the jaw (delineated by the apexes of the roots of the teeth) is known as the basal bone.

On the maxilla, the alveolar process is a ridge on the inferior surface, making up the thickest part of the bone. On the mandible it is a ridge on the superior surface. The structures hold the teeth and are encased by gums as part of the oral cavity. The alveolar process comprises cells and periosteum, also encompassing nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.The alveolar crest terminates uniformly at about the neck of the teeth (within about 1 to 2 millimetres in a healthy specimen), while the alveolar process terminates along the line of the mandibular canal.