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Objectives Radiographs of the maxilla and mandible obtained for examining oral diseases include various anatomical features. Similarly, radiographs obtained in head and neck assessments may also include dental findings. In this study, we aimed to identify individuals using head and neck CT and MR imaging to obtain identifying information, including dental findings. Materials and Methods We examined morphological similarities by superimposition and compared dental findings and tooth arrangement using head and neck images. In addition, 3D superimposition by ante-mortem (AM) cone-beam (CB) CT and post-mortem (PM) CT was also performed. Results In the evaluation of the superimposition of PM-CT, AM-CBCT and AM-MR images, all cases matched in 3D. In comparisons and collations of AM and PM images, the dental findings were similar. Conclusion The findings suggest that dental findings can be assessed even on head and neck images, even if there are no AM dental images. Moreover, our attempts to compare and collate dental 3D images have indicated a new direction for future dental personal identification.

Personal identification based on dental work is a well-known and useful method for post-mortem identification. Recently, several odontologists have matched reconstructed post-mortem computed tomographic (CT) panoramic images of unidentified bodies with ante-mortem dental panoramic X-ray images for identification purposes. However, it is not always possible to obtain useful information from these panoramic X-ray and CT images. To obtain more accurate information for personal identification, we focused on the anatomical structures of the maxilla and mandible rather than dental work on the images. The aim of the present research is to develop a novel method for the personal identification of unidentified bodies, based on landmarks on the tooth sockets, which are not notably subject to post-mortem changes. We calculated the Procrustes distance and Pearson's correlation coefficients of the landmarks of two sample images, and used the results to correctly identify the subjects from among a pool of 100 candidates, without having to rely on information on dental work. We conclude that this method is a reliable tool and can be easily and rapidly applied for victim and missing person identification.

A jawless skull was found in a mountain area during a murder investigation. The skull was thought to belong to a missing male person who had been killed and buried in the area 2 years before. The body could not be identified from fingerprints or dental records since the offenders amputated both his hands and destroyed his jaws. We tried to identify the skull based on antemortem (AM) computed tomography (CT) images of the missing person and the postmortem (PM) CT data of the skull by superimposing the two data sets using imaging software both in two dimension (2D) and three dimension (3D). The results suggested that the two data sets were significantly identical in shape and size by both multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) and 3D volume rendering (VR). We succeeded in identifying the subject using PM CT data of the skull without the jaws and comparing those data with AM CT data of the head. This method is very easy to apply, and its results are far more compelling than other anthropological methods when shown in court to medical non-professionals.

Introduction A victim of killing for life insurance. A jawless skull was found in the mountain area after the offender's testimony. The skull was thought to belong to the male victim who had been killed and buried in the mountain 2 years before. Before burying him the offender had cut his both wrists off and destroyed the jaws with a shovel not to be identified from the fingerprints or the dental records. Two years before the murder, the offender had attempted to murder the victim by running over to get money from a life insurance policy. Despite being unsuccessful, he still got some insurance coverage since the victim became vegetative after the false accident. The offender murdered him because of his expensive medical care. The issue was if the skull belongs to the victim. We tried to identify the victim with the ante mortem (AM) CT images of the missing person and the post-mortem (PM) CT data of the skull since it is known that the shape of frontal sinus is unique. Methods The AM CT images were obtained from the hospital, which were scanned when he had been run over. The skull was scanned with 4-slice MDCT scanner and reconstructed with the 3D image serving system (Aquarius NET) at our department. These two data sets were superimposed by the software function called “fusion”. Results Two data sets of the AM and PM CT images of the skull were nearly identical in the shape and the size in both multi planer reconstruction (MPR) and 3D volume rendering (VR). More specifically, the sizes and the shapes of parietal and temporal bones, the shapes, region, and the sizes of the orbit, and the shapes of the skull base are identical. Conclusions The results suggest that two data sets belong to the same person. We have done personal identifications by using PM CT data of the skull without jaws comparing with AM CT data of the head.

Frey's syndrome is characterized by sweating and flushing in the anterior auricular region during ingestion which may appear several weeks or months after trauma or operation in the parotid field. This syndrome is localized and often persistent when once appeared. We recently experienced a case of Frey's syndrome appeared after operation for condylar fracture and the clinical findings were evaluated including image diagnosis.A 20-year-old female received a corrective fixation for the fractures of mandibular body and bilateral condyles. The postoperative course was uneventful, however, abnormal sweating in the left anterior auricular region began to appear during ingestion from 22 months after operation. A starch-iodine test showed a sweating reaction in the left auriculo-temporal nerve region. No abnormal finding was observed by palpation, salivary scintigraphy and sialography except for slightly decreased salivation.The incidence of this syndrome varies from 35% to 62% by investigators and various treatment methods have been attempted, including general and local anticholinergicdrugs, blocking of ear nerve ganglion or tympanic plexus, radiotherapy and skin flap excision. However, these therapies mentioned above must be further improved because of possible recurrence and complication.

A Leclerc operation by the temporal approach was made in a case of recurrent luxation of the temporomandibular joint.This technique can be performed under direct vision, is simple to increase only the height of the articular eminence, and can give good results without trouble.Our case was a 18-year-old male who would be a Buddhist priest, so we accomplished with modified temporal flap incision.Postoperative course is uneventful.

We examined the hearingloss of 31 cases in 4-7 years old children who had congenital malformation of the external ear.In case of congenital malformation of bilateral. external ears, two cases were diagnosed as sensorineural hypoacusis and the others conductive hypoacusis. The hearingloss of the bilateral microtia was found to be more severe than that of the unilateral microtia combined no other deformity.Characteristically, 6 out of 31 cases were seemed to be concerned with salidmide.Regarding to language development, children showed congenital conductive hypoacusis were favourable in development of vocabulary, articulation, language comprehension, discrimination score and special training, in comparison with children showed sensorineural hypoacusis with the same grade of hearingloss as above conductive hypoacusis.

In this paper we report about a suture holder for preprosthetic surgery.This inexpensive suture holder is easily made and can be sterilized by any method.Through its use, an oral surgeon can manage numerous complex sutures without any trouble and perform the operation quickly and systematically.We recommed this valuable suture holder.