Dr. Dechow's research is broadly concerned with the growth, adaptation, and evolution of the craniofacial skeleton and related soft tissues. Throughout his career, he has addressed this area through a variety of biomechanical, material, and morphologic approaches. Early work focused on comparative and morphometric studies of craniofacial form and physiological studies of the muscles of mastication. Specifically, this work concerned the morphology, function, and biomechanics of the masticatory muscles, and the adaptation of the muscles to clinically relevant alterations, such as surgical overloading, detachment, and chronic lengthening. Of particular interest were the relationships between force and speed of masticatory muscles, muscle form, craniofacial growth, and biomechanics.

Later and continuing research includes studies of the structural properties, biomechanics, and modeling of the craniofacial skeleton. This work concerns the understanding of the mechanical and elastic properties of bone in the craniofacial region, and the relationship of variations in the properties to the biomechanics of orofacial form and function. The broad question is how do cellular mechanisms of bone growth and remodeling relate to gross skeletal form, function, and evolution.

Recent research, funded by NIH, is focusing on the functional results of surgical and traumatic insults on the basic structures and function of the craniofacial skeleton, and the impact of alteration, such as distraction osteogenesis, bond plating (stress shielding), osteoporosis, or edentulation, on the craniofacial skeleton.

The diversity of bone tissue in the craniofacial region makes this an optimal area for exploring the relationship between the microarchitecture of cortical bone and its material properties. These later studies have led to the use of ultrasound, confocal microscopy, 3D computer reconstruction of internal tissue organization, and biomechanical modeling, including finite element analysis, as experimental techniques.

A primary interest is the evolution of craniofacial form in humans and other primates. These include the comparative biomechanics, growth, and form of the craniofacial region in both extant and fossil primates, and the relationships between variations in craniofacial structure and function throughout the vertebrates. A major ongoing collaborative project, funded by NSF, is exploring craniofacial structure and feeding mechanics during hominid evolution using advanced techniques of mechanical modeling, structural tissue analysis, and morphological reconstruction of paleontological specimens.

Dr. Dechow belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the American Association of Anatomists, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Dental Education Association, American Association of Physical Anthropologists, American Society of Biomechanics, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Human Biology Council, International Association for Dental Research, International Bone and Mineral Society, International Primatological Society, International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions, Microscopy Society of America, Sigma XI, Society for Clinical Trials, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. He has served on a number of committees and held offices (most recently, President of the Craniofacial Biology Group) of the International Association for Dental Research.

Recent Grants

• Integrative analysis of hominid feeding biomechanics. NSF; 2007-2012.
• Scanco VivaCT 40 high speed micro computed tomography system. NIH; 2008-2010.
• North and Central Texas Clinical and Translational Science Initiative. NIH U54; 2007-2012.
• Improved manufacture of bone reconstruction plates. NIH R41 DE017259-01; 2007-2009.
• UT Southwestern Clinical Science Scholars Program. NIH K12 HD052225-01; 2005-2010.
• Curvilinear mandible bone transport reconstruction plate. NIH R42 DE015437; 2005-2007.
• BCD Research Infrastructure Enhancement Program. NIH U24 DE16472; 2004-2007.
• Masticatory biomechanics and the primate face. NSF BCS-0240865; 2003-2007.
• Novel mandibular bone transport reconstruction plate. NIH R41 DE15437; 2003-2004.
• Research infrastructure improvement planning award. NIH R24 DE15478; 2003-2004.
• Short-term training in dental and craniofacial research. NIH T35 DE07188; 2001-2006.
• Tobacco use and oral bone loss. Texas A&M Tobacco Endowment Award; 2000-2002.
• Edentulation and mechanics of the craniofacial skeleton. NIH K08 DE00403; 1997-2002.
• Craniofacial biology training program. NIH T32 DE07256; 1995-2002.