These data indicate that IL-17 is crucial in the protection against extracellular pathogens and may play a dual role: improving pathogen control and promoting alveolar resorption when released in excessive amounts.
Traumatic tooth loss leads to alveolar resorption especially in sagittal direction, either due to direct loss of osseous structure because of injury or due to resorption of the alveolar crest that takes place after the loss of tooth.