Seminars in Orthodontics
VOL 10, NO 2
Introduction: Bone Physiology in Orthodontics
his issue of the journal is the first portion of
T a two-part series on the physiologic basis of
orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic ther-
apy. Bone biology is the physiologic basis of our
specialty because all orthodontic and orthopedic
responses are manifest by osseous adaptation to
environmental and therapeutic loads. Funda-
mental bone biologic mechanisms are reviewed
in a clinical context. The intent is to focus on
current concepts and apply to common clinical
problems.
The first paper addresses bone development
and function— genetic and environmental mech-
anisms. This article draws heavily on the consid-
erable talents of Professor James K. Hartsfield,
Jr, a board certified medical geneticist and orth-
odontist who is currently completing his Phase
III certification requirements in orthodontics.
Jim’s considerable talents are opening a whole
new perspective on bone development, cranio-
facial growth, and response to biomechanical
therapy. It has been an honor and a pleasure to
work closely with Jim over the past 10 years.
The second paper considers the unique phys-
iology of bone modeling. Most aspects of bone
physiology relevant to biomechanical therapy,
growth, and skeletal adaptation are bone mod-
eling events. The purpose of the article is to
demonstrate the importance of distinguishing
between bone modeling and remodeling. This
semantic problem has considerably confused the
orthodontic literature for many years. I am
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1053/j.sodo.2004.01.002
Seminars in Orthodontics, Vol 10, No 2 (June), 2004: p 99
JUNE 2004
pleased to welcome as coauthors Dr Sarandeep
Huga, a former orthodontics and PhD student at
Indiana University who is now on the full-time
faculty at Ohio State University, and my son, Dr
Jeffrey Roberts, who is in the private practice of
orthodontics in Richmond, Indiana.
The third paper explores the mechanism of
osseointegration, utilizing two exciting new tech-
nologies: nanoindentation and backscatter im-
aging. Since implant-anchored orthodontics is a
dramatic advance in biomechanic therapy, it is
very important for orthodontists to understand
the “functional ankylosis” of rigidly integrated
endosseous implants. Dr. Huja is an orthodon-
tist who is at the cutting edge of this emerging
field, which has substantial importance in med-
icine and dentistry.
The fourth paper introduces two clinicians
from Melbourne, Australia: Dr Gary Yip, an en-
gineer, restorative dentist, and periodontist, and
Dr Paul Schneider, an orthodontist skilled in the
use of retromolar implants. During his peri-
odontics training at Indiana University, Dr Yip
developed a unique application of micro-CT
technology for analysis of the osseous interface
of rigidly integrated implants. This nondestruc-
tive method for examining bone and soft tissue
in three dimensions is emerging as the new gold
standard for studying the osseous support of
dental implants. The method is particularly well
suited to recovered retromolar implants.
W. Eugene Roberts, DDS, PhD, DHC (Med)
Guest Editor
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