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Robert J. Hinton

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Robert J. Hinton, Ph.D.

Regents Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Member of the GSBS Faculty

3302 Gaston Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75246
Phone: 214-828-8272
Fax: 214-874-4538
Email: bhinton@bcd.tamhsc.edu

Education and Post-Graduate Training

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Anatomy and Craniofacial Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1980-1983)

Ph.D., Biological Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1979)

M.S.,  Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1975)

B.S., Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1968)

Career History

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (2004-present)

Acting Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (2003-2006)

Associate Chair/Vice Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (1999-2003; 2006-2007) 

Faculty, Center for Craniofacial Research & Diagnosis, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (1994-present)

Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry (1992-2004)

Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Baylor College of Dentistry (1988-1992)

Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Baylor College of Dentistry (1983-1988)

Lecturer, Medical Gross Anatomy, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Michigan (1982)

Teaching Interests

Teaching responsibilities include:

Gross Anatomy (dental)

Research Interests

The focus of my career has been the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), first in human skeletal material, Hinton Research Imagethen in animal studies, and most recently in explant cultures of embryonic mandibular condyles.

Early on, my experimental studies centered on the structural, proliferative, and synthetic response of the intraarticular structures of the TMJ to a change in jaw function, as variously induced by dietary consistency, condylar fracture, and postural changes.

More recently, my interests have shifted to elucidation of the unique structural and growth properties of the TMJ cartilage, a secondary cartilage with developmental differences from limb cartilages, as reflected in its responsiveness to growth factors and hormones and its extracellular matrix composition.

Present research directions include: 1) molecules important for regulation of proliferation and differentiation in chondroprogenitor/ osteoprogenitor cells 2) influence of growth hormone (GH) on growth of the craniofacial skeleton as reflected in GH-deficient dwarf rats, and 3) interaction of GH and mandibular posture in the regulation of condylar cartilage proliferation and mandibular growth.

Grants

  • Regulation of Mandibular Condylar Cartilage Growth. NIH-NIDCR R01 DE 015401-01, 2003-2007.
  • CUSPID: Baylor's Oral Health Research Education Grant.  NIH-NIDCR 1 R25 DE018883, 2008-2013

Selected Publications

  1. Hinton RJ, Carlson DS.  Effect of function on growth and remodeling of the temporo-mandibular joint.  In:  McNeill C, Hannam A, Hatcher D, eds. Occlusion: Science and Practice. Quintessence: Carol Stream, Illinois, pp. 95-110, 1997.
  2. Del Santo M. Jr., Marches F, Ng M, Hinton RJ.  Age-associated changes in decorin in rat mandibular condylar cartilage.   Archs. Oral Biol. 45(6): 485-494, 2000.
  3. Fuentes  MA, Opperman LA, Bellinger LL, Carlson DS, Hinton RJ.  Regulation of cell proliferation in rat mandibular condylar cartilage in explant culture by insulin-like growth factor-1 and fibroblast growth factor-2.  Archs. Oral Biol., 47(9): 643-654, 2002.   
  4. Fuentes MA, Opperman LA, Buschang P, Bellinger LL, Carlson DS, Hinton RJ.   Lateral functional shift of the mandible: Part I. Effects on condylar cartilage thickness and proliferation.   Am. J. Orthod. Dentofac. Orthoped., 123:153-159, 2003.
  5. Fuentes MA, Opperman LA, Buschang P, Bellinger LL, Carlson DS, Hinton RJ.   Lateral functional shift of the mandible: Part II. Effects on gene expression in condylar cartilage.  Am. J. Orthod. Dentofac. Orthoped., 123: 160-166, 2003.
  6. VandeBerg JR, Buschang PH, Hinton RJ.   Absolute and relative growth of the rat craniofacial skeleton.  Archs. Oral Biol., 49: 477-484, 2004. 
  7. VandeBerg JR, Buschang PH, Hinton RJ. Craniofacial growth in growth hormone-deficient rats.  Anat. Rec., 278A: 561-570, 2004.
  8. Hinton RJ, Carlson DS.  Regulation of mandibular condylar cartilage growth.   Sem. Orthod., 11:205-219, 2005.
  9. Buschang PH, Hinton RJ.  A gradient of potential for modifying craniofacial growth.  Sem. Orthod. 11:219-226, 2005.
  10. Kerins CA, Carlson DS, Hinton RJ, Hutchins B, Grogan DM, Marr K, Kramer PR, Spears RD, Bellinger LL.  Specificity of meal pattern analysis as an animal model of determining temporomandibular joint inflammation/pain.  Intl. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 34: 425-431, 2005.
  11. Shibazaki R, Maki K, Tachikawa T, Shibasaki Y, Hinton RJ, Carlson DS, Opperman LA.  Changes in PTHrP and in 3D bone structure of the mandibular condyle following mandibular distraction osteogenesis in growing rats.  J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 63:505-512, 2005.
  12. Singleton DA, Buschang PH, Behrents R, Hinton RJ.  Craniofacial growth in growth hormone-deficient rats following growth hormone supplementation.  Am. J. Orthod. Dentofac. Orthoped., 130: 69-82, 2006 (2004 winner, Milo Hellman Award for research given by Amer. Assoc. of Orthodontists).
  13. Alaqeel SM, Hinton RJ, Opperman LA.  Cellular response to force application at craniofacial sutures. Orthod. Craniofac. Res., Orthod. Craniof. Res., 9: 111-122, 2006.
  14. Abed GA, Buschang PH, Taylor R, Hinton RJ.  Maturational and functional related differences in rat craniofacial growth.  Archs. Oral Biol., 52:1081-1025, 2007.
  15. Bills GC, Buschang PH, Ceen R, Hinton RJ.  Timing effects of growth hormone supplementation on rat craniofacial growth.  Eur. J. Orthod., 30:153-162, 2008.
  16. Hinton RJ, Serrano M, So S.  Differential gene expresion in the perichondrium and cartilage of the neonatel mouse temporomandicular joint.  Orthod. Craniofac. Res., 12:168-177, 2009.
  17. McCann AL, Schneiderman ED, Hinton RJ.  E-teaching and learning preferences of dental and dental hygiene students.  J. Dent. Educ., 74:65-78, 2010.
  18. Sun Y, Gandhi V, Prasad M, Yu W, Wang X, Zhu Q, Feng JQ, Hinton RJ, Qin C.  Distribution of small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLING) in the condylar cartilage of rat mandible.  Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., 39:272-281, 2010.
  19. Serrano MJ, So S, Svoboda KK, Hinton RJ.  Cell fate mediators Notch and Twist in mouse mandibular condylar cartilage.  Arch. Oral. Biol 56:607-613, 2011.
  20. Hinton RJ, Dechow PC, Abdellatif H, Jones DL, McCann AL, Schneiderman ED, D'Souza R.  Creating an evidence-based dentistry culture at Baylor College of Dentistry: The winds of change.  J. Dent. Educ., 75:279-290, 2011.

National Service/Recognition

Honors

Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary), elected 1967

National Research Service Award (NIDR-NIH), 1981-1983

Omicron Kappa Upsilon (Dentistry Honorary), elected honorary member, 2006

Regents Professor, Texas A&M University System, awarded 2010