Remodeling the Dentofacial Skeleton: The Biological Basis of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics

Abstract

Orthodontic tooth movement is dependent upon the remodeling of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone by mechanical means. Facial sutures are also fibrous articulations, and by remodeling these joints, one can alter the positional relationships of the bones of the facial skeleton. As might be expected from the structure and mobility of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), this articulation is more resistant to mechanical deformation, and whether functional mandibular displacement can alter the growth of the condyle remains controversial. Clinical investigations of the effects of the Andresen activator and its variants on dentofacial growth suggest that the changes are essentially dento-alveolar. However, with the popularity of active functional appliances, such as the Herbst and twin-block based on ’jumping the bite’, attention has focused on how they achieve dentofacial change. Animal experimentation enables informed decisions to be made regarding the effects of orthodontic treatment on the facial skeleton at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Both rat and monkey models have been widely used, and the following conclusions can be drawn from such experimentation: (1) Facial sutures readily respond to changes in their mechanical environment; (2) anterior mandibular displacement in rat models does not increase the mitotic activity of cells within the condyle to be of clinical significance, and (3) mandibular displacement in non-human primates initiates remodeling activity within the TMJ and can alter condylar growth direction. This last conclusion may have clinical utility, particularly in an actively growing child.