Bioelectric perturbations of bone. Research directions and clinical applications

Bioelectric perturbation of living hard tissue produces clinically useful effects. It is being used effectively in the treatment of intractable orthopedic problems such as nonunion and avascular necrosis. Dental applications of this phenomenon are still in the early stages of research and development. Barring untoward circumstances, this form of local growth control may be used as an adjunct to localized bone induction therapy such as in the treatment of periodontal diseases, bone grafting or implantation of biocompatible products. It also appears to show promise in enhancing the rate of tooth movement or the stability of anchor teeth. The mechanism for these perturbation-induced changes in cells has not been explained. This is an active area of research with many implications for helping the clinician understand the molecular biology of hard-tissue cell proliferation, migration and differentiation.