Search

Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify the weak points in the knowledge and attitudes of first-year oral health care and nursing students towards oral health care and to identify the factors associated with their positive willingness to practise oral health care after becoming a health professional in order to develop oral healthcare curricula. Materials and methods The subjects were 88 first-year dental students (DSs), 64 dental hygiene students (DHSs) and 119 nursing students (NSs) enrolled in schools in Japan, as of April 2017. A questionnaire was distributed to subjects in each school to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards oral health care. Results Less than half knew that oral health care was also provided in cancer hospitals, hospices, acute care hospitals, maternity wards and psychiatric wards. Only 46.2% knew that oral health care was effective in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia. The level of knowledge and attitudes in NSs regarding oral health care were likely to be lowest amongst the student groups. Only NSs' high interest towards oral health care was associated with their positive willingness to practise oral health care in the future although oral health students' high perceptions and interest regarding oral health care were associated with the willingness. Conclusion This study showed oral healthcare and nursing students' weak points regarding their attitudes and knowledge of oral health care at early stages. Oral health academic staff and professionals should develop effective oral healthcare curricula for oral healthcare students and help nursing staff develop a collaborative nursing oral healthcare curriculum to motivate nursing students.

Aim To investigate nursing faculty members' perceptions of oral care and to identify the effects of an educational environment on their perceptions. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire regarding oral care was conducted at eight nursing schools in Japan. A total of 156 (71.6%) faculty members participated in this study. Their perceptions of oral care practice were compared by using a statistical analysis according to the length of work experience, teaching field, school, and facility setting (defined as whether the school had an affiliated hospital with a dental department). Results Almost all of the faculty members were nurses and most were female. Almost all perceived that oral care was effective in the prevention of aspiration pneumonia and frailty. There were significant differences by teaching field in the nurses' perceptions regarding with whom they should collaborate to conduct oral care and there were significant differences by school in the nurses' perceptions regarding who should provide oral care, where it should be provided, and what kinds of knowledge are important for practice. Perceptions of low involvement in oral care were significantly associated with the schools having an affiliated university hospital with a dental department. Conclusion There were different perceptions regarding oral care among nursing faculty members and their perceptions might have been affected by their educational environment. Therefore, it is suggested that oral care education should be standardized and nursing faculty members should standardize the curriculum regarding oral care for nursing students.

Objective The oral health-related quality of life has recently been reported to be a rather important aspect of general health. Dropping out of dental treatment has long been a problem plaguing oral health. However, the relationship between dropout for dental treatment and the oral health-related quality of life is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health-related quality of life in patients who dropped out of dental treatment. Materials and methods We conducted a questionnaire-based investigation using web research. The participants were allocated to two groups (dropout group and maintenance group). The dropout group included participants who had stopped visiting their dental office in the past and had not revisited in the last decade. The maintenance group included patients who visited their dental office continually for a regular checkup. We analyzed the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) as an indicator of the oral health-related quality of life and assessed the background characteristics of the subjects. Results We analyzed 225 people in the dropout group and 236 people in the maintenance group. The score of GOHAI was significantly different between the 2 groups (dropout group:47.07, maintenance:48.97, p = 0.035), and the more frequent dropouts brought the less GOHAI score (p = 0.012). Furthermore, the results of a logistic regression analysis showed that dropping out of dental treatment was significantly associated with the GOHAI score (p = 0.002). Conclusion A relationship was demonstrated between the oral health-related quality of life and dental treatment dropout. Furthermore, dental treatment dropout seemed to have negative effects on the oral health-related quality of life.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a group-based educational program on the awareness, attitudes, and confidence of nurses in the performance of oral health checkups.Materials and methods: The subjects (n=184) were nurses who worked in a hospital and an affiliated long-term care facility in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The subjects were divided to an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group participated in the program, which was a combination of a lecture and training program on oral assessment and oral healthcare. To investigate the effect of the program on their awareness, attitudes, confidence, and performances of oral health checkups, questionnaire surveys were conducted before and one month after the intervention.Results: Sixty-two nurses participated in the program. Fifty-five (88.7%) in the intervention group and 68 (84.0%) in the control group who completed both surveys were employed for the analysis. In the intervention group, there were significant differences between the baseline and follow-up in their awareness of detecting oral cancer and confidence in examining oral cleanliness (p

Background Dental caries (tooth decay) is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Caries prevalence in most industrialised countries has declined among children over the past few decades. The probable reasons for the decline are the widespread use of fluoride toothpaste, followed by artificial water fluoridation, oral health education and a slight decrease in sugar consumption overall. However, in regions without water fluoridation, fluoride supplementation for pregnant women may be an effective way to increase fluoride intake during pregnancy. If fluoride supplements taken by pregnant women improve neonatal outcomes, pregnant women with no access to a fluoridated drinking water supply can obtain the benefits of systemic fluoridation. Objectives To evaluate the effects of women taking fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) compared with no fluoride supplementation during pregnancy to prevent caries in the primary teeth of their children. Search methods Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register (to 25 January 2017); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 11) in the Cochrane Library (searched 25 January 2017); MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 25 January 2017); Embase Ovid (1980 to 25 January 2017); LILACS BIREME Virtual Health Library (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information database; 1982 to 25 January 2017); and CINAHL EBSCO (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; 1937 to 25 January 2017). We searched the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for ongoing trials to 25 January 2017. No restrictions were placed on the language or date of publication when searching the electronic databases. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of fluoride supplements (tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) administered to women during pregnancy with the aim of preventing caries in the primary teeth of their children. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened the titles and abstracts (when available) of all reports identified through electronic searches. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias, as well as evaluating overall quality of the evidence utilising the GRADE approach. We could not conduct data synthesis as only one study was included in the analysis. Main results Only one RCT met the inclusion criteria for this review. This RCT showed no statistical difference on decayed or filled primary tooth surfaces (dfs) and the percentage of children with caries at 3 years (risk ratio (RR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75 to 2.85; participants = 938, very low quality of evidence) and 5 years old (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.33; participants = 798, very low quality of evidence). The incidence of fluorosis at 5 years was similar between the group taking fluoride supplements (tablets) during the last 6 months of pregnancy and the placebo group. Authors' conclusions There is no evidence that fluoride supplements taken by women during pregnancy are effective in preventing dental caries in their offspring.

This paper proposes an extended method to discover exceptional association rule sets from incomplete databases. The proposed method calculates an odds ratio directly for the rule evaluation. The exceptional rule set is defined as each itemset X, Y has a weak or no statistical relation to class C, respectively; however, the join of X and Y has a strong relation to C. The exceptional rule set has potential to interpret long rules for the join of X and Y. The proposed method is applied to rule mining for oral health assessment databases. We obtained interesting exceptional rule sets and the results showed effectiveness of the method in the medical and health care fields.

The presence of any age-related differences in gingival pigmentation associated with smoking, particularly in a young population, remains to be fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related differences in smoking gingival pigmentation. Gingival pigmentation was analyzed using the gingival melanosis record (GMR) and Hedin’s classification with frontal oral photographs taken at 16 dental offices in Japan. Participants were categorized into 10-year age groups, and their baseline photographs were compared. In addition, to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on gingival pigmentation, subjects were divided into a former smoker group (stopped smoking) and current smoker group. A total of 259 patients 19 to 79 years of age were analyzed. People in their 30s showed the most widespread gingival pigmentation. In addition, subjects in their 20s showed a weak effect of smoking cessation on gingival pigmentation. These findings suggested that the gingival pigmentation induced by smoking was more remarkable in young people than in middle-aged people. This information may be useful for anti-smoking education, especially among young populations with a high affinity for smoking.

Recent advances in the aging of Japanese society, have meant that the chance of encountering dementia patients in dental clinics is dramatically increasing. Many studies have shown that the brain volume decreases along with the progression of dementia. Although previous studies have reported a relationship between tooth loss or periodontitis and the onset of dementia, the pathological mechanisms underlying this association have not been elucidated. In this study, we focused on the relationship between the oral condition and brain atrophy to discuss how to adequately deal with dementia patients. This study included fifteen participants who underwent brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). We obtained information on the oral condition, lifestyle, cognitive function and brain atrophy. The cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). MR images of each patient were analyzed with the Voxel-based Specific Regional Analysis System for Alzheimer's Disease to quantitate the degree of brain atrophy. The study population included 4 male and 11 female patients. The mean age was 75.9 years. The mean number of present teeth was 15.0. The median MMSE score was 26. The degree of atrophy of the whole brain was significantly correlated with the number of present teeth (r=-0.72, p

Background: The perception that there is a surplus of dentists may be an opportunity to explore attractive career options in dentistry in Japan. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 2,114 graduates of a private dental school in Japan. We asked about the perception of oversupply, rated by a visual analogue scale, work environment factors, potential areas of dentistry and necessary medical subjects for their dental practice. The association of a strong perception of dentist oversupply with work environment factors, dental areas and medical subjects was examined by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The response rate was 66%, and data from 1,203 community dentists were analysed. Most respondents (76%) perceived either a strong or very strong surplus of dentists. A very strong perception was significantly associated with work environment factors, including practising in large cities and earning the second lowest of four levels of annual income, but no further associations were found with either the number of patients treated or with the other two ranges of income. This perception was negatively associated with the number of necessary medical subjects, specifically otorhinolaryngology, but no significant association was seen with the number of potential areas of dentistry. Conclusions: The negative correlation between the aspiration to acquire medical knowledge and the perception of dentist oversupply under the circumstance of the possibly excessive perception among community dentists invites further research on the benefits of teaching oral medicine to graduate entry students to build future working satisfaction.

Background: Due to moisture and the anatomical complexity of the oral mucosa, it is difficult to measure the extent of gingival melanosis in an optical manner. Therefore, we developed a new quantitative method using clinical oral photographs and compared the extent of gingival melanosis before and after smoking cessation. Methods: A new analysis method, which we named the gingival melanosis record (GMR), is a quantitative analysis method using clinical oral photographs. We obtained 659 clinical photographs from 263 patients from 16 general dental offices in Japan. Standardized measuring sites were automatically spotted on the screen, and the presence of gingival melanosis was determined at the measuring sites. We assessed the validity of the GMR with the previously reported Hedin’s classification using Spearman’s rank correlation and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: The GMR showed a significant association with Hedin’s classification (p < 0.01, correlation coefficient = 0.94). The GMR also showed excellent reproducibility of the substantial repeated agreement intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) (1,1) and ICC (2,1), p > 0.61). The longitudinal loss of gingival melanosis was confirmed by a change in the GMR among patients who successfully achieved smoking cessation for a mean of 4.5 years. Conclusion: The GMR is an effective method to assess gingival melanosis. The loss of gingival melanosis after smoking cessation can be objectively confirmed with the use of the GMR.

Background Continued periodontal maintenance after active therapy is highly important for maintaining a healthy oral function. In Japan, the rate of consultation for periodontal maintenance is remarkably low compared to other developed countries. This study analyzed the relationship between long-term maintenance and patient background characteristics in an effort to identify ways to increase the rate of consultation for periodontal maintenance in Japan. Methods Thirty-three long-term maintenance patients were interviewed. The interviews were recorded on video. The conversation between the patient and the interviewer was converted to text, and the data were qualitatively analyzed using the Steps for Coding and Theorization (SCAT) method. Results The mean age of the patients was 61.4 years and the average duration of maintenance was 10.7 years. The majority (90.9 %) of patients cared about their dietary habits, and 72.7 % of the patients understood the importance of physical activity. All of the patients wished to continue the maintenance, and 72.7 % of patients had good feelings about the staff of the dental clinic. However, their recognition of the description of primary prevention was low, with a response rate of only 21.2 %. Conclusions The long-term maintenance patients had a high level of consciousness regarding their health and good feelings about the staff of the dental clinic. Oral hygienists, who are the main staff involved in periodontal maintenance were suggested to be important for increasing the maintenance consultation rate.

Objectives To determine whether the number of teeth lost can predict the risk of subsequent hip fracture. Methods We followed up 9992 male Japanese dentists aged 50 years or more (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 61.1 ± 9.6 years) for incidence of hip fracture. From 2001 through 2006, they completed a baseline questionnaire on lifestyle and health factors including the number of teeth lost (excluding third molars). Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated by fitting proportional hazard models. Results During the mean follow-up period of 6.0 years, 20 new cases of hip fracture occurred. Participants who had lost 15 or more teeth at baseline were at a significantly increased risk of hip fracture: the multivariate-adjusted IRRs were 4.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–14.2) for loss of 15–27 teeth and 4.5 (1.1–18.0) for edentulousness relative to loss of 0–14 teeth (trend P, 0.028). Overall, the risk of hip fracture was weakly associated with the number of teeth lost: the IRR per tooth was 1.06 (95% CI, 1.01–1.12). Conclusions Tooth loss was slightly associated with a higher risk of subsequent hip fracture. The number of teeth lost might be informative in predicting this risk.

Objective: To assess the psychosomatically subjective symptoms of subjects with neurotic tendencies complaining of halitosis. Design: Breath malodour was measured in 368 patients using organoleptic test and gas chromatography. Neurotic tendency and subjective symptoms were assessed using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI). Results: Of the 79 subjects who met the criteria for neurotic tendencies according to CMI scores, 58 (73.4%) had oral malodour, whereas 21 (26.6%) did not. Coated tongue, periodontal pocket, and daily drinking were significantly more common in subjects with oral malodour. On the CMI questionnaire, subjects with no oral malodour more frequently responded ‘yes’ to questions about fatigue and psychological problems in their families. Additionally, many answered that they had perceived their own bad breath. Conclusions: Difficulties experienced by subjects with neurotic tendencies and oral malodour may manifest primarily in oral conditions, whereas those experienced by individuals with neurotic tendencies and no oral malodour may manifest primarily in psychosomatic symptoms.

Wakai K, Naito M, Naito T, Kojima M, Nakagaki H, Umemura O, Yokota M, Hanada N, Kawamura T. Tooth loss and intakes of nutrients and foods: a nationwide survey of Japanese dentists. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 43–49. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objectives: To clarify the association of tooth loss with dietary intakes among dentists, for whom sufficient dental care is available. Methods: We analyzed the data from 20 366 Japanese dentists (mean age ± SD, 52.2 ± 12.1 years; women 8.0%) who participated in a nationwide cohort study from 2001 to 2006. The baseline questionnaire included a validated food-frequency questionnaire to estimate intakes of foods and nutrients. We computed the geometric means of daily intakes by the number of teeth, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, and history of diabetes. Results: The mean intakes of some key nutrients and food groups, such as carotene, vitamins A and C, milk and dairy products, and vegetables including green-yellow vegetables, decreased with the increasing number of teeth lost (P for trend

This study aimed to determine the frequency of smoking and to explore factors associated with the smoking habits of female students at a dental hygiene school in Japan. Questionnaires regarding cigarette smoking were given to 168 female students. The response rate was 97.6%. The prevalence of smoking, including current and occasional smokers, was 20.3%. Among family members, only the smoking status of their mother significantly influenced the smoking status of the students. The odds ratio for smoking among dental hygiene students whose mothers were smokers in comparison to students whose mothers were not smokers was 5.1 (95% confidence interval 2.1-12.2, p=0.000). Decision tree analysis showed that the smoking habit of dental hygiene students was correlated with their mothers’ smoking history, as well as the smoking status of junior high school teachers, the smoking habits of close friends and a history of participating in a smoking prevention program when in elementary school. The increased smoking rate of young females, including dental hygienists, is a growing problem in Japan. The smoking statuses of dental hygiene students might be closely influenced by their mothers' smoking status.

Objective To examine the psychosomatic aspects of patients complaining of halitosis. Study design Breath malodor in 165 patients was measured using an organoleptic test (OLT), sulfide monitoring, and gas chromatography. Clinical evaluation included oral examination, OLT, and volatile sulfur compound measurement. The psychologic condition of patients was assessed using the Cornell Medical Index (CMI). Results Every item in the CMI questionnaire was negatively correlated with the OLT scores. Nine of 21 subjects (42.9%) diagnosed with pseudohalitosis and approximately 20% of subjects diagnosed with genuine halitosis were considered to be provisionally neurotic. Subjects with pseudohalitosis reported significantly higher physical scores, but not mental scores, than those with genuine halitosis. Subjects with physiologic halitosis showed significantly higher symptoms of depression than those with oral pathologic halitosis. Conclusion The psychologic condition of patients complaining of halitosis was associated with the actual degree of malodor and the clinical characteristics.

Background: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is involved in a variety of biological processes, such as bone metabolism and modulation of the immune response. Recent findings suggest that the pathway involving bone mineral density-mediated effects is important for the development of periodontitis, but their effects of combined VDR gene polymorphisms have not been confirmed on periodontitis. We assessed the relationship between ApaI, BsmI, and FokI VDR polymorphisms and the risk of severe chronic periodontitis among Japanese adult men. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we examined 97 unrelated healthy Japanese men (mean age: 45.6 years, range: 22-59). A clinical examination was performed at a worksite health checkup, and information was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the VDR ApaI, BsmI, and FokI polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction. Results: F-carriers of FokI VDR polymorphisms were less likely to develop severe chronic periodontitis than non-F-carriers (p = 0.09). The ApaI and BsmI VDR polymorphisms did not show significant differences in the alleles or genotypes between the subjects with or without severe chronic periodontitis. The haplotype analysis of the three combined VDR polymorphisms revealed that the Abf homozygote had a notably higher prevalence of severe chronic periodontitis than the others, and adjustments for age, smoking status, number of teeth present, and prevalence of diabetes did not change this association (OR = 7.5; 95% CI = 1.6-34.4; p = 0.01). Conclusion: The VDR haplotype constructed from the ApaI, BsmI, and FokI polymorphisms is related to the risk of severe chronic periodontitis in Japanese men.

A previous study reported that the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Japanese individuals dropped sharply as they reached old-old age. The aim of present study was to explore the risk factors of OHRQoL by investigating the association of OHRQoL with oral indices, lifestyle and psychological distress.A questionnaire survey was carried out to assess the OHRQoL, oral indices, lifestyle, and psychological distress of patients who were of ≥75 years of age and who regularly visited a dental clinic for maintenance. OHRQoL and psychological distress were assessed using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and the General Health Questionnaire, respectively. The relationships between the GOHAI score and related factors were examined by non-parametric bivariate and logistic regression analyses using a GOHAI cut-off score of 45.0.A total of 187 old-old patients with a mean age of 77.9 ± 3.0 years participated in the present study. The average GOHAI score was 50.8 ± 8.0. In the bivariate analyses, the average sleeping hours, use of sleep medication, Short Form 8-Item Health Survey (SF-8), General Health Questionnaire score, and the number of teeth present were significantly correlated with the GOHAI score. A logistic regression analysis showed that the number of teeth present, General Health Questionnaire and the use of sleep medication were associated with the GOHAI score.The present study found that the OHRQoL was strongly associated with insomnia and depression. It is therefore suggested that oral healthcare professionals take general background information, such as the presence of insomnia and depression, into consideration to improve OHRQoL when they treat old-old patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 893-897.

The term 'oral health care for older adults' has various interpretations, and its meaning is not clear among dental school academic staff. Additionally, there are no theoretical or practical stand-alone courses on oral health care for older adults in Japanese dental schools. To improve oral health care education, we investigated the opinions and attitudes toward oral health care education for older adults among academic staff in dental schools. Data were collected in seven dental schools from May to September 2013 via an online questionnaire survey. Five-hundred-fifty-eight academics (428 male, 130 female) participated (response rate 57%). The average number of years since they had completed a university degree was 20.2 (SD 10.2) years. The majority (Over 90%) of participants perceived that oral health care should be provided in nursing facilities, hospitals, and at home. Its treatments and instructions should include, not only methods of keeping good oral hygiene, but also improvement of oral function such as swallowing training and salivary glands massage. The majority (84.2%) suggested oral health care education should be combined as a one-credit, stand-alone course. Findings indicate that dental academics have an understanding the need for a course in oral health care for older adults. Participants supported the need for further development of education in oral health care for older adults' in Japan, as a separate course on its own right. However there were some different views about content by teaching field. The need for a national core program for teaching oral health care education was suggested.

Objectives To present a case of gingival overgrowth during visiting care. Background Ca-channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth is a well-known adverse event. However, only limited information on the treatment of calcium-channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth during visiting care has been reported. Clinical report The patient was an 88-year-old female living in a nursing home since dementia. She had been taking a calcium-channel blocker and observed gingival overgrowth. Initial therapy was performed and changed the antihypertensive medication from a calcium-channel blocker to an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. After initial therapy, the gingival overgrowth improved significantly. In addition, the defecation rate was improved. Conclusion This case indicated that periodontal therapy is useful even for dementia patients during visiting dental care.

This paper describes a novel technique for high-speed human motion recovery. For 3-D human motion recovery, stereoscopic vision is a normal technique, as well as the employment of a magnetic field, but this cannot avoid the difficulty of marker tracking. In this article, a novel motion recovery technique is proposed based on the back projection of silhouette images. This technique has some advantages over others because it does not employ markers, and it has a simple architecture. In the experiment performed, the proposed motion recovery technique is implemented on a system containing a LAN, a host computer, and four pairs of camera and computer, and it achieves high-speed human motion recovery.

Although diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease promote atherosclerosis, the relation of oxidative stress with these diseases remains unclear. To investigate the influence of periodontal disease on oxidative stress, we assessed the effects of initial periodontal therapy on lipid peroxide (LPO), an oxidative stress index, in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic patients.Seventeen subjects with or without type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this intervention study. No patient had a history of cardiovascular or peripheral vascular disease. Five type 2 diabetic and six non-diabetic patients, all with moderate to severe periodontal disease, received and completed the initial periodontal therapy and examination. Before and after the therapy, patients underwent medical examinations and blood determinations, including LPO.Before the therapy, the periodontal probing depth and bleeding on probing (BOP) were similar between groups. LPO, triglyceride, and white blood cell counts were significantly higher in diabetic than non-diabetic patients. Therapy improved the periodontal parameters in both groups and significantly decreased LPO in diabetic patients. Anti-malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) antibody, a marker of oxidized LDL, significantly decreased with treatment in both groups. Overall, Spearman rank correlation showed no significance between periodontal parameters and LPO or anti-MDA-LDL antibody, but BOP tended to correlate with LPO in diabetic patients (r = 0.585; P = 0.0791).Although this is a small and preliminary study, and the changes of LPO and anti-MDA-LDL antibody were within the normal range, the initial periodontal therapy significantly decreased LPO, an oxidative stress index, in type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease.

A method is described which recovers the 3-D shape of deformable objects, particularly human motions, from mobile stereo images. In the proposed technique, camera calibration is not required when taking images. Existing optical 3-D modeling systems must employ calibrated cameras that are set at fixed positions. This inevitably puts constraints on the range of the movement of an object. In the proposed method, multiple mobile cameras take images of a deformable object moving freely, and its 3-D model is reconstructed from the video image streams obtained. The advantages of the proposed method include the fact that the cameras employed are calibration-free, and that the image-taking cameras can move freely. The theory is described, and the performance is shown by an experiment on 3-D human motion modeling in an outdoor environment. The accuracy of the 3-D model obtained is evaluated and a discussion is given.

In 1998 and 2001, The World Health Organization and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III proposed working criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MS), but they are not perfect for use in diverse ethnicities. In 2005, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and eight societies in Japan respectively proposed new criteria. However, there has been no report regarding the application of these new criteria in Japanese workplaces. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 377 healthy Japanese men aged 20-64 yr who worked in a chemical factory in Kanagawa, Japan. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire, underwent a physical examination including waist measurements and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and provided overnight fasting blood samples. The prevalence of MS in Japanese men was 17.0% and 13.5% according to the new IDF and Japanese criteria respectively. In both of the new criteria, baPWV was significantly higher in those with MS than those without MS (1,563 +/- 264.2 vs 1,362 +/- 204.6 cm/sec, p

We report a case of oral malodor associated with internal resorption. A 39-year-old male attended our hospital complaining of oral malodor. Utilizing organoleptic measurement, the halimeter test and gas chromatography, it was diagnosed as a strong halitosis caused by oral origin. The pocket probing depth of tooth 21 was 10 mm, and X-ray examination revealed a vertical bone loss around this tooth. The patient had received periodontal treatment at two dental offices previously, but the periodontal conditions and oral malodor persisted. We performed an initial periodontal preparation, however a deep pocket remained. We therefore performed a surgical inspection including flap reflection, and found that the tooth had a large perforating defect in the distal surface. The extracted tooth had multiple perforating defects covered with granulation tissues on all root surfaces including the root apex. Taking into consideration the anamnesis and X-ray examination of the extracted tooth, internal absorption was considered to have been the cause of the multiple perforating defects. After extraction of the causative tooth, oral malodor dramatically decreased. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an oral malodor associated with internal resorption. (J. Oral Sci. 48, 89-92, 2006)

Objective: In order to examine if Tannerella forsythia stimulates the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, an in vitro study was performed. Background: P. gingivalis and T. forsythia are often isolated simultaneously from active periodontitis sites, indicating that these bacteria somewhat interact in the periodontal environment. We reported previously that mixed infection of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia synergistically induced lesion formation in a murine abscess model, and gingipains of P. gingivalis played an important role in this synergism. One of the possible mechanisms of this synergism is growth promotion by coinfection of the two bacteria. Methods: Cell extracts of T. forsythia were added to the nutrition-decreased medium and the promotion of growth of P. gingivalis was examined. Results: Sonicated extract of T. forsythia stimulated growth of P. gingivalis in nutrition-decreased medium in a dose-dependent manner. Proteins appeared to be the nature of growth-promoting factor, and the cell extract of T. forsythia had no stimulating effect on the growth of P. gingivalis strain devoid of gingipain activities. Conclusion: A product or a component of T. forsythia seemed to stimulate growth of P. gingivalis under nutrition-limited conditions. Gingipains are considered to play an important role in digestion or uptake of this growth-promoting factor. The interaction between T. forsythia and P. gingivalis in growth may be in part related with the synergistic virulence in a murine model.

Here, we report the management of a type I endoperiodontal lesion with furcation bone loss. A 59-year-old female attended our hospital with the chief complaint of mobility of tooth 46 and recurrent gingival swelling around the tooth. She previously received dental treatment from two dentists, but her condition did not improve. The tooth manifested the symptoms of typical periodontitis, such as gingival swelling, tooth mobility, pus discharge from the periodontal pocket and furcation bone loss. The tooth had no caries and the pulp reacted to an electric pulp test. Careful examination of the gingiva revealed traces of dental fistula. X-ray examination via a gutta percha inserted into the fistula revealed that furcation bone loss was associated with the periapical lesion. We diagnosed a type I endoperiodontal lesion, and applied Periocheck, a detection kit for peptidase-producing bacteria, to check for decreases in bacteria in the furcation and root canals. Soon after non-surgical root canal treatment, the condition of tooth 46 improved without periodontal treatment. After confirming a negative score with Periocheck, the root canal was filled. After 3 months, the furcation bone loss was on the way to recovery. These results indicate that proper diagnosis and confirmation of a decrease in root canal bacteria are important for treating endoperiodontal lesions.

Objective The prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis G virus (HGV), and transfusion-transmitted viruses (TTV) was evaluated in patients with impacted teeth or jaw deformities. Study design Of 486 patients, 268 had serum samples available for retrospective TTV DNA and HGV RNA assays. In addition, the sera of 404 patients were assayed for HB surface antigen and the sera of 340 were assayed for HCV antibody. Results HGV RNA was detected in 3 of 268 patients (1.1%), and TTV DNA was detected in 60 of 268 (22.4%). Of 404 patients, 3 had HB surface antigens (0.7%). Furthermore, 13 of 340 were HCV-seropositive (3.8%). The rate of infection was similar between patients with impacted teeth and those with jaw deformities, respectively, as follows: 1.1% versus 0%, respectively, for HBV prevalence; 4.1% versus 3.2% for HCV prevalence; 1.8% versus 0% for HGV prevalence; and 22.9% versus 21.4% for TTV prevalence. Conclusions Universal precautions to prevent hepatitis and TTV infection during oral surgical procedures are important.

歯周病は要因のすべてが解明されていない多因子疾患であり, 歯周病に関連する遺伝子多型が注目されている。そこで, 系統的総論の方法により遺伝子多型と歯周病の関連を解析した。Medlineなどの各データーベースより, 遺伝子多型と歯周病に関する研究を検索した。適格基準は歯周病患者と健康なコントロール間の遺伝子多型の関係を解析している研究である。除外基準は歯周病原性細菌やインプラントに関係する遺伝子の研究などとした。結果は, 44の論文が選択規準を満たし, Fcγ 受容体に関するのが7論文, インターロイキン-1 (IL-1) が14論文, TNFが8論文, 他の遺伝子多型が16論文であった。多くは研究方法と患者ならびにコントロールの定義を明確に記載していた。臨床症状を遺伝解析担当者へ盲検してあるかの記載がない研究も存在した。Fcγ は, 7研究すべてが歯周病との関係ありとしていた。IL-1は6論文中2論文が関係あり, 若年性歯周病との関係は3論文中1論文が関係あった。TNFはすべての8論文が遺伝子多型と歯周病の間に有意の関係を示さなかった。対象者の人種の違いなどのため, 歯周病の罹患に関する数量的な統合は行わなかった。歯周病と一部の遺伝子多型と関係を示したが, 逆の関係を示す研究も存在した。今後は, 歯周病の診断の定義を明確にし, 対照を伴う研究が必要であり, これらの研究を通じて歯周病治療と予防に貢献することが望まれる。

本研究は, 本教室が過去に明らかにしてきた歯の移動に関する病態生理にもとづき, ヒトにおいて頬圧や舌の影響を受けていると考えられる頬舌的な方向への歯の移動にも, 歯周組織破壊が影響を及ぼしているかについて明らかにすることを目的として行った。歯周病患者62名における1, 538歯を対象とした。歯周組織破壊度のパラメータとして, 初診時のPPD, PALの測定を行った。初診時スタディモデルの咬合面観をコンピュータに取り込み, 画像処理ソフトScionIrnage® (Scion Corporation) を使用して, 各模型での上下顎の仮想歯列弓を設定した。仮想歯列弓より逸脱した歯の変位方向の検索を行い, ノンパラメトリック検定を用いて, 変位を生じている群の頬側面と舌・口蓋側面におけるパラメータと変位方向との関係について, および変位を生じていない群と変位を生じている群における頬側面と舌・口蓋側面の違いについて検討した。頬側へ変位した群は上顎および下顎前歯部の舌・口蓋側で, 舌側へ変位した群は下顎前歯部で頬側に有意な歯周組織破壊を認め, 本教室における過去の病的移動の実験結果を支持した。一方, 下顎小臼歯, 大臼歯部では炎症部位との関連性を認めなかった。この結果は, 同部位に筋力などの他の阻害因子があることを示唆した。

summary Recently, various authors have proposed the interesting idea that occlusal force may be a principal factor in cervical lesions of the tooth. It is speculated that the lateral force in non-ideal mastication causes the tooth to bend and that the resulting tensile stress damages the enamel surface. In this study, we carried out stress analysis on the upper central incisor and the lower first molar using the plastic–elastic deformation theory with two-dimensional finite element method (FEM). The essential feature that the tensile yield strength is much smaller than the compressive one was taken into account. Our results suggested that oblique loading on the tooth stretches the enamel surface near the cemento-enamel junction and causes plastic deformation which eventually leads to the cervical lesion.

本研究は, インプラント周囲組織の機能状態を分析することを目的として, 周囲組織の健全なインプラントと炎症のあるインプラントにおいて, 垂直的荷重による経時的な変位動態を測定した。健康なビーグル成犬6頭にスクリュータイプチタンインプラントの埋入を行い, インプラント頸部にデンタルフロスを結紮することにより実験的インプラント周囲炎を惹起させた。変位測定は, 炎症惹起前と炎症惹起後1～6ヵ月の1ヵ月毎に10～500gまでのおもりをインプラントに対して垂直的に加え, 高精度レーザー変位計を用いて行った。同時に歯周病学的臨床パラメータの測定とX線撮影を行った。その結果, 1) 周囲組織の健全なインプラントにおける荷重負荷時の変位量は天然歯と比較して小さく, その変位様式は, 天然歯が粘弾性的であるのに対して弾性的な挙動を示した。2) 30%程度の骨吸収が認められた炎症惹起後においても, 炎症惹起前と比較して変位量にほとんど変化はみられなかった。3) 炎症惹起後, 臨床パラメータのうち, PPD, PAL, 歯肉溝浸出液 (ペリオトロン値) が著しい変化を示したのに対し, 動揺度 (ペリオテスト値) のみ変化が認められなかった。以上より, インプラントは, 周囲組織に炎症が発生しても荷重に対する変位がほとんど生じないため, 機能状態の変化を感知しにくい。従って, インプラントの診査に機能評価を用いることは感度が極めて低いことが示唆された。

It is uncertain as to what extent the major bone matrix constituents, mineral and collagen, show inter-individual variation and dependence on age and sex in jawbones. The purpose of this study was to clarify this uncertainty using cadaveric mandibles and investigate the association of bone matrix with the number of existing teeth.Cortical bone samples (1 × 1 cm) collected from the mental of 48 cadaveric mandibles (27 men and 21 women; age range = 56-93 years and 63-103 years, respectively) were used to quantify three bone matrix indices: mineral content, collagen content and extent of lysine hydroxylation of collagen. Associations with age and comparisons by sex were evaluated based on bone matrix indices and the numbers of existing teeth. The numbers of existing teeth were compared between the groups showing low and high bone matrix index values.A great amount of inter-individual variation was seen in all bone matrix indices. No bone matrix indices were associated with age, while the number of existing teeth was negatively associated with age. The bone matrix indices and number of existing teeth did not differ by sex. The number of existing teeth was nearly twice as high in the group showing high collagen content as in the low collagen group; however, an analysis of covariance showed a significant inter-group difference not from bone matrix indices, but rather from age. Interestingly, in comparison to femoral collagen, mandibular collagen showed lower lysine hydroxylation, which can represent an aspect of bone quality.Mandibular bone matrix shows great inter-individual variation and is independent of age and sex, but did not show as strong a relationship with tooth loss as age. Even so, mandibular collagen may represent a unique characteristic of bone matrix and deserves to be further investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the gingival color precisely and explore factors affecting gingival pigmentation. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven healthy volunteers (22 females and 45 males, average 28 years of age) were recruited for this study. We measured the color of the attached gingiva at the interdental papilla of the upper and lower right central incisors, lateral incisors and canines using a non-contact type dental spectrophotometer. The measured color was quantified according to the CIEL*a*b* 1976 criteria. Oral health indices, such as the plaque control record, gingival inflammation and probing pocket depth, were determined manually. Lifestyle factors that may affect gingival pigmentation, such as smoking and medications, were also recorded according to a questionnaire. Results: Twenty-one subjects were current smokers, 12 were former smokers and 34 were non-smokers. On the gingival color analysis, the L* and b* values in the current smokers were significantly lower than those in the former and non-smokers in all areas, except the L* value of the lower canine in the former smokers. On the other hand, the a* value was lower in the current smokers than in the non-smokers for the upper medial, lower lateral incisor and canine gingiva. Among smokers, the L*, a* and b* values were lower in the patients with a Brinkman index (BI) of ≥ 100 than in those with a BI=0. In addition, the L* and b* values were lower in the patients with a BI of ≥ 100 than in those with 0

本研究は, 初期の実験的歯周炎の垂直的荷重に対する歯の変位動態を解明することを目的として, 1) 歯周病学的臨床パラメータ; プロービングポケットデプス (PPD), プロービングアタッチメントレベル (PAL), 歯肉溝滲出液量 (ペリオトロン値), 動揺度 (ペリオテスト値) の経日的変, 2) 荷重に対する歯の変位動態の経日的変化, 3) 変位動態と臨床パラメータとの相関関係, の3つの分析を行った。実験動物は全身的に健康なビーグル成犬6頭を用い, 被験歯は下顎左側第三前臼歯とした。実験的歯周炎は歯の全周にナイロン製デンタルフロスを結紮することにより惹起させた。歯に対する負荷は10gから100gまでの分銅を垂直的に10秒間加え, 変位測定は高精度レーザー変位計を用いて行った。 測定は歯周炎惹起前のべースラインと歯周炎惹起後1, 3, 6日目に行った。その結果, 1) PPD, PAL, ペリオトロン値は歯周炎惹起後1日目に有意な増加を示したが, 3日目では変化しなかった。6日目に全ての臨床パラメータが増悪傾向を示した。2) 沈下距離は1日目に有意に増加したが3日目ではほとんど変化せず, 再び6日目に有意な増加を示した。3) 負荷直後の速い変位動態を示すphase 1沈下距離はPPDと最も高い相関を示した。以上より初期の実験的歯周炎罹患歯の変位動態は臨床変化と同調するような経日的変化を示し, 3日目から6日目にもっとも大きい機能的変化を示した。さらに今回のレーザー変位計は, 炎症による歯の変位動態を詳細に捉えていたことが示唆された。

The aim of the present study was to evaluate endosseous implants in conjunction with the sinus lift procedure using periodontal parameters and computed tomography (CT) scanning. In 6 patients, 8 sinus lift procedures were performed to the atrophic posterior maxilla. Fourteen endosseous implants were placed. The condition of the peri-implant mucosa was assessed postoperatively at an average of 31 months using periodontal parameters such as plaque index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing. All the implants were maintained in a clinically healthy condition throughout the observation period. CT images revealed the difference in the morphology of the sinus floor between the locations of the block-shaped bone and the small pieces of bone which were both grafted. The results indicated that endosseous implants in conjunction with the sinus lift procedure could be maintained by monitoring the periodontal parameters. J Periodontol 1999;70:1254-1259.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the use of 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) is an effective method of imaging bone defect morphology caused by periodontal disease. A total of 186 sites from 9 patients were examined. Periodontal parameters were recorded after initial therapy. For the evaluation of bone resorption and root morphology, computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed and then CT images were reconstructed for 3-dimensional evaluation. Immediately prior to the surgery, bone sounding measurements were done under local anesthesia. The denuded bone measurement during periodontal surgery represented the true bone level. To compare the bone level obtained from 3DCT images with the true bone level, the examiner, without being informed of the patient's condition, traced the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and apical extent of the bone levels on the images of 3DCT, and measured the vertical distance between the CEJ and bone. The mean difference between 3DCT and the true bone level was 0.41+/-2.53 mm (mean+/-SD). The correlation between them showed a highly significant linear regression (R=0.75). However, the mean difference between the bone sounding level and the true bone level was 0.22+/-1.49 mm (R=0.91). Thus, bone sounding was slightly more accurate than 3DCT, but there was no significant difference between these two assessments (P0.05). The results of present study indicate that 3DCT has the potential to allow precise assessment of bone defect caused by periodontal disease.

高齢者のQOL (Quality of life) にとっても重要な要件のひとつになり得る健康な歯周組織を維持するためには, 可及的に低年齢層から歯周組織の実態を把握し, 歯周疾患に対する予防対策を講ずる必要がある。本研究では, 学童期の歯周疾患の罹患状況を把握する目的で小学児童1学年から6学年までの児童330名を対象として, PMA指数, プラーク指数およびCPITN (Community periodontal index of treatment needs) を用いて疫学調査を行った。その結果, PMA指数は2学年から3学年にかけて急激に高くなり, 高学年になるに従い上昇した。またCPITN値も学年が進むにつれて高くなる傾向が認められた。同様にPMA指数およびプラーク指数が高いほどCPITN値も大きくなる傾向がみられた。さらに被験歯がCPITNコード3以上を認めた児童を対象とし, 詳細にPPD, アタッチメントロスを調べた再調査結果では, アタッチメントロスが従来報告されている結果よりも高頻度に認められた。以上の結果より, 学童期における歯周疾患の実態調査とその予防対策の必要性が明らかになるとともに, CPITNを用いたスクリーニング調査により高度のポケットを有する者のみを対象にし, 精密な検査を行う本研究方法は, 若年性歯周炎を早期に検出するシステムとして大変有効であることが示唆された。

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal parameters of osseointegrated dental implants. The condition of the peri-implant mucosa was assessed using periodontal parameters, i.e., of plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level and Periotest scores as well as a radiographic parameter, over a 4-year follow-up period. 32 non-submerged ITI dental implants, all placed in the mandible, were studied in 12 patients who had good oral hygiene. All patients were regularly recalled at 6-month intervals. The overall implant success rate was 100%. None of the implants showed any signs of inflammation, radiographic bone loss or any detectable mobility during the follow-up period. Methods similar to those used to evaluate the natural dentition were effectively employed to assess the clinical status of the dental implants. The diagnostic value of these parameters could not, however, be determined from this study due to the absence of any peri-implant tissue complications. The results indicated that some periodontal parameters of healthy peri-implant mucosa might be slightly different from healthy periodontal tissue.