AKA Osteomyelitis
-usually a bacterial infection that involves all three components--marrow, cortex and periosteum, may occur in any bone
-In jaws, occurs with an odontogenic infection
-Acute or chronic--may be localized (focal) or diffuse
-"alveolar abscess" used for infections of alveolar bone only while "osteomyelitis" is used for infections that also include the cortical bone and periosteum
-May be difficult to differentiate clinically, in acute form, pus is formed that spreads through all three components of the bone, cutting off the blood supply and leading to necrosis of the bone