Oral bone biology

The cranial bones provide a structural framework to the head and face, protecting the organs inside. The cranium is endowed with mobility through the temporomandibular joints, with which many oral functions are performed. To exert these functions, the cranial bones undergo a continuous maintenance process of bone formation and resorption, bone remodeling. The remodeling of cranial bones is influenced by the physiological or pathological conditions they are subjected, including periodontitis and tumor. Therefore, oral bone biology has been investigated from multiple viewpoints.We overview the physiology and pathology of the bone, centering on oral biology. Recently, many valuable insights have been obtained using novel techniques, including X-ray diffractometry, high-resolution microscopy, DNA/RNA sequencing, and mouse genetics. These insights include hydroxyapatite crystal alignment, cell lineage tracing, bone cell activity, biomechanics, the mechanisms underlying oral diseases and potential therapies for these diseases. These findings have advanced the oral bone biology research field and provided a better awareness of that which is currently known, and that which needs to be investigated.Based on the current state of accumulated knowledge, further progress is needed for obtaining a comprehensive picture of oral biology to greatly improve the level of clinical practices.