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Introduction

Two distinguished specialties in dentistry,namely orthodontics and periodontics, par-

ticularly regard the health of the paradental tis-

sues as paramount. To the orthodontist, thesetissues contain the cells that enable him or herto move teeth to new positions in the dental archand perhaps alter the form of the alveolus itself.To periodontists, restoring and maintaining thehealth of these tissues against the ravages ofchronic and acute infection is their declaredmission. Focusing on the same tissues, the twospecialties overlap biologically, inadvertently,

and to the sensitive orthodontist, most benefi-cially.

In about 1986 Coenraad F. A. Moorrees wrotepresciently: . . . . Only when (the) fundamentalquestion in bone physiology is better under-stood can appliances for optimal tooth move-ment in orthodontics be achieved. The 21stcentury is answering that question with breath-taking speed, challenging biomechanics to meet

mechanobiologics. Every clinician in each spe-

cialty should applaud that development.Since Moorrees writing, the emphasis of 21st

century biology is on molecular mechanisms andcellular genetics. Significantly, with the aid ofthese nascent sciences, the mechanotransduc-tion process has been revealed with increasingdetail, explaining how a mechanical force istranslated into cascades of biological reactions

and promising the dentofacial orthopedist awealth of knowledge to engineer both alter-ations in physiologic form and protection fromdisease.

This developing body of knowledge is of in-terest to the periodontist, who is engaged in aformidable battle against harmful microorgan-isms, highly destructive to the periodontal tis-sues, as well as to the alveolus and other organs,

indeed even as distant as the heart and systemic

vasculature. The periodontist in particular iskeenly aware of the intimate associations be-tween paradental tissues, cells, and systemic dis-

eases whether evoked through genetics, epigenet-ics, or environmental factors. All these disciplinescan affect the outcome of periodontal and orth-odontic therapy.

Moreover, it seems that controlled injury tothe alveolar bone actually increases the velocityof tooth movement and enhances long-term sta-bility. It remains to be seen exactly how main-stream orthodontics will adopt these principles

for mechanical and surgical procedures. Suchan enhancement of didactic power will increasethe awareness of more refined principles thatdefine both accomplishments and failures, but,above all, it will lead to better diagnostic andtherapeutic procedures. It is important to re-member that science marches on despite whatindividual styles of practice we may prefer.

This issue ofSeminars in Orthodonticsattemptsto bring that science to the clinical realm with

contributions from a variety of sources that re-late to the foundational integrity and dynamicsof orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic ther-apy. The first article defines salient issues thatare relevant to the practicing orthodontist. Drs.Palomo and Bissada merge the young with theold, the enthusiastic visions of the new genera-tion with the staid and steady wisdom of experi-

ence. The clinical protocols of Dr. Michael O.Williams demonstrate how defining the alveolusas the focus of study might bring knowledge ofnovel orthopedic manipulation to prior genera-

tions of orthodontic literature.Dr. William Mihram shares his prosthodontic

perspective, derived from a decade of interdisci-plinary university teaching, which demonstratesto his fellow specialists exactly how appliance

therapy can alter pathologic alveolar topographyto minimize the amount of osseous surgery thatmay be needed in complex cases.

The biochemical basis of his work is ex-plained by Drs. Masella and Chung and the con-

2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

doi:10.1053/j.sodo.2008.07.001

Seminars in OrthodonticsVOL 14, NO 4 DECEMBER 2008

227Seminars in Orthodontics, Vol 14, No 4 (December), 2008: pp 227-228

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cept is taken further by Drs. M. Thomas andWilliam M. Wilcko with their demonstrations of

tooth movement through healing periodontaltissue, with and without bone grafts.

Our objective is to synthesize recent advances

in the specialties of orthodontics and periodon-tics with the hope that dentofacial orthopedicart will rest secure on the firmament of evidence-based science. It is a compelling biologic ratio-

nale that will allow the clinician a more forcefuljustification for the clinical art of practice. We

hope that such a spirit of collegial enterprise willdisclose even more novel methods of collabora-tive care in this Century of the Biologist.

Neal C. MurphyNabil F. Bissada

Guest Editors

228 N.C. Murphy, and N.F. Bissada