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Statement of Problem: Several choices exist for the treatment of advanced periodontal disease. One is a combined periodontal and prosthetic treatment that includes cross-arch fixed partial dentures (FPDs). However, the outcomes of such therapy have been reported mainly from studies in Scandinavian countries., Purpose: The aims of this study were: (1) to longitudinally evaluate, after periodontal and prosthodontic treatment that included cross-arch FPDs, treatment outcomes in Korean patients who suffered from severe periodontitis; and (2) to evaluate the patients' treatment assessments and the FPDs after 3 years., Material and Methods: This survey included 39 Korean patients provided with 50 FPDs. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed at the time of delivery of the FPDs and at the 3-year follow-up examinations. The prostheses were divided into 3 groups according to design (end abutments, unilateral cantilever, and bilateral cantilevers) and the amount of supporting tissues at the time of insertion. On average, only 26% of the total original periodontal tissue remained at the time of insertion. The FPDs consisted of 11 to 14 units, with a mean of 5 to 7 abutments in the 3 groups. The mean periodontal ligament area of the abutments was 79% of the total ligament area of the replaced teeth., Results: At the 3-year follow-up examination, the FPDs were stable in all patients, who in general displayed good oral hygiene and had healthy periodontal conditions. The change in periodontal ligament area over the 3-year observation period was negligible (1 mm(2) per dental unit) and showed no statistically significant difference in relation to FPD design. Most patients were satisfied with the function of their FPDs with respect to mastication, phonetics, hygiene, esthetics, and chewing comfort. A few patients stated that they were careful with the FPDs and avoided certain foods (for example, raw peanuts and grilled squid) because they felt insecure with the cantilever segments. Most patients reported that they would choose the same treatment again., Conclusion: Patients with advanced periodontal disease demonstrated successful outcomes over a 3-year period and reported satisfaction with combined periodontal and restorative treatment that included cross-arch FPDs.

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in analyzing the three-dimensional structure of alveolar bony defects. The result showed that differences between CT film and actual readings from the cusp ridge to the bone crest were negligible, and the reading on CT film was underestimated approximately 1 mm at the distance from the cusp ridge to the bottom of the bony defect. By reading a series of CT films, one can easily evaluate the type of bony defects. Therefore, application of CT maybe useful for analyzing three-dimensional structure and diagnosis of the alveolar bony defects.

Data available on 230 periapical endodontic surgical specimens were studied. It was found that bacteria occurred in the periapical tissue very infrequently. In addition, there was no correlation between the presence of acute inflammatory cells and the presence or absence of pain. Granulomas with epithelium occurred in 61 out of 230 cases, while 14 of these were cysts. Of the 110 cases with radiographic follow-up data, 67 were classified as successful, 40 were uncertain, and 3 were unsuccessful according to a modification of Strindberg's criteria, whereas 107 would have been successes according to the criteria of Bender and Seltzer and their associates. No valid biologic or clinical basis for endodontic therapy as suggested by Bhaskar was found in this material.

The potential diagnostic usefulness of subtraction radiology in dentistry was evaluated by means of an experimental model of marginal periodontitis in cynomolgus monkeys. Beam-guiding, field-limiting, intraoral radiographic instruments were modified to allow construction of appliances which yielded repeatable superimposable radiographic images during the course of a 16-week study. Marginal periodontitis was induced in monkeys by means of circumferential silk sutures tied around mandibular second molar and second premolar cementoenamel junctions, and serial radiographs were taken at weekly intervals for 16 weeks. Control subtraction masks were made from pretreatment radiographs, and bone loss was evaluated by means of elapsed-time films to give the subtraction prints. The subtraction films clearly showed increasing bone loss with time and were produced easily with size O dental films. This technique appears to have considerable potential usefulness in the evaluation of bone-density changes in experimental models of dental diseases as well as in the clinical setting.

Radiographic, gross, and histologic evidence is provided to demonstrate the development of caries and periodontal disease over a 5-year period in an unerupted tooth. The authors speculate on the pathogenesis of these disease processes.