Bone Remodeling and Healing

To fulfill adequately their functions of support, sustentation and protection for the internal organs and guarantee blood calcium homeostasis, bone tissue is in constant remodeling. Alveolar bone, the primary support structure for teeth, is particularly subjected to continuous and fast remodeling associated with tooth eruption and positional adaptations, as well as with the functional demands of mastication (1). The remodeling cycle comprises resorption of bone matrix, under osteoclasts responsibility, followed by formation and mineralization of a new matrix, in charge of osteoblasts. A complete cell differentiation, in addition to an appropriate functional activity, depends on intercellular communication between bone-forming and boneresorbing cells. The osteoblasts control degradation of bone matrix by producing cytokines stimulatory of osteoclasts precursors (2,3). In the sequence, osteoclasts Strategies for Stimulation of New Bone Formation: A Critical Review