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We evaluated chewing function in 120 patients with TMJ disorders by scoring the ability of dietary intake, assigning scores of 0 to 40 for 20 kinds of food, and by calculating dietary intake rate for each food.The overall average score was 27.4±9.8 before treatment. The score increased to 36.0±5.6 after treatment.Evaluation of the score with respect to treatment efficacy showed a significant difference between the group that responded to treatment (37.2±4.9) and the group that did not (33.8± 5.9).As for the relation to the clinical classification of the Japanese Society of TMJ (1996), the average score before treatment was significantly higher in type III patients with clicking (33.8±6.8) than in other types (23.0 to 26.4). After treatment, there was no significant difference among the types, although the score increased significantly in every type.Studies of dietary intake rate showed that patients were severely limited in their intake of solid, elastic, and large foods and slightly limited in their intake of soft food before treatment. After treatment, the dietary intake rate increased for all food groups. The rate was almost 100% for group I foods, 88% to 100% for group If, about 80% for group DI, and 68% to 90% for group W. These results showed limitations in intake of solid and elastic foods remained after treatment.As for dietary intake, chewing function in patients with TMJ disorders improved satisfactorily after treatment, and the evaluation of chewing function may reflect the response to treatment of patients with TMJ disorders.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate disk repositioning clinically and through use of magnetic resonance imaging after the insertion of a disk repositioning appliance. Study design. Seventy-four patients with 82 temporomandibular joints showing middle to late opening movement click and closing movement click near maximum intercuspation were treated with a mandibular full-coverage repositioning splint. These joints were assessed clinically and by means of magnetic resonance imaging for disk recapture. Results. According to clinical assessment, 75.6% ( 62 82 ) of the joints were treated successfully; no click was observed from the splinted mandibular position. When compared with the results of magnetic resonance imaging assessment, clinical assessment showed an accuracy rate of 91.5%, although the incidence of the false negatives was high (40%). Conclusions. The results of this study showed that about 70% of reducing displaced disks were captured with use of the disk repositioning appliance. And it was also suggested that magnetic resonance imaging is helpful to evaluate disk repositioning therapy.

We describe an 86-year-old woman with a large parotid tumor. Ten years previously, she had first noticed a tumor about the size of the tip of the little finger in the right parotid region.The tumor had become very large. Her Hematological examination showed a pattern of severe anemia and undernourishment. Excision of the tumor was carried out, and the excised tumor measured 200×180×150mm and weighed 900g. Histological examination revealed that the tumor was a carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma. There has been no evidence of recurrence after 3.5 years of follow up.

Ten cases which were suspected of tumor in the major salivary area were assesed comparing the results of pre-operative diagnostic examinations (present history, physical examination, sialography, Technetium-99 and Gallium-67 imagings, ultrasonography and computed tomography) with surgically and pathologically confirmed diagnosis.The aim of this study is to obtain information concerning differential diagnosis between salivary tumor and inflammatory lesion, and between benign and malignant salivary tumors.It seems that differential diagnosis between tumor and inflammatory lesion seems to be possible with pre-operative examinations, however discrimination between benign and malignant tumors is difficult.It is very important to make a provisional diagnosis of the lesion in major salivary gland area putting all kinds of information from individual examinations together.In the case of suspicious malignant tumor, we must establish a total cure system including an open biopsy and following therapies.