Accretion and Resorption of Bone: Experimental Approaches

Abstract

When prostheses and artificial devices fail in situ, the failure can often be attributed to an unfavorable response of the supporting tissue. Bone provides the foundation in many instances. The strength or weakness of living bone is under the control of its cells. Knowledge of the responses of these cells is necessary to predict modifications in design required to produce the proper kind and amount of stress which will result in maintenance of bone rather than its resorption. A review is given of experimental approaches which have yielded important information about bone as a material and about its physiology, both normal and abnormal. At present the methods of producing new bone are very limited. These include the use of 10–20 μA of direct current applied to bone at the cathode of implanted electrodes or the administration or oral fluorides which produce bone of poor quality. Prevention of bone resorption is thus of utmost importance. The proper kind and amount of stress as well as the proper hormone balance is necessary to maintain bone. Good oral hygiene and use of fluoridated water help prevent alveolar bone loss. However, prevention and reversal of bone resorption await much needed future research.