SOME ASPECTS OF BONE-FORMATION AND REMODELING PERTINENT TO CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT

Bone formation, modeling, and remodeling occur as physiologic developm ental growth or healing processes. Bone formation and turnover is an o ngoing process from early organogenesis to the end of life. The assump tion can be made that all elements for osteogenesis and resorption are present at any time and can be activated given an appropriate environ ment. Bone is a dynamic tissue that is readily influenced by its envir onment. Recognition of this fact is essential in the treatment of dent al malocclusions and in reconstruction of jaw, facial, and skull defor mities. Examples of experimental studies on various environments for b one formation and clinical application of the experimental findings ar e here related to treatment of alveolar clefts, bony contour deficienc ies, midface hypoplasia, skull bone defects, and traumatically or cong enitally underdeveloped, rudimentary, or missing mandibular condyle/ra mus units.