How can a tooth be moved in a bony socket during orthodontic treatment?

### Because bone deposition and reabsorption can occur, and because bone responds to mechanical stress (Wolff's law), a tooth can be moved. By applying slight pressure to a tooth, the bone on the forward side will reabsorb, while the bone on the reverse side will be reformed.

## Step1: Understanding the Bone Structure### The bone structure in the jaw is not rigid but dynamic. It has the ability to deposit and reabsorb bone material in response to mechanical stress. This is known as bone remodeling, a process that allows the bone to adapt to new physical demands.## Step2: Applying Mechanical Stress### When a slight pressure is applied to a tooth during orthodontic treatment, it creates a mechanical stress on the bone surrounding the tooth. This stress is not uniform, as the bone on the side of the tooth that is under pressure (the forward side) will reabsorb bone material, while the bone on the opposite side (the reverse side) will deposit new bone material.## Step3: Bone Remodeling and Tooth Movement### As a result of the differential bone remodeling, the tooth moves forward in its socket. This is possible because the bone responds to the mechanical stress (Wolff's law), and the process of bone deposition and reabsorption allows the tooth to be moved in its bony socket.