Osseointegration of implant fixtures in bone tissues is an important factor for the prognosis for implant treatment. One rational approach for implant treatments is to shorten the period of necessary osseointegration. It has been demonstrated that ultra short wave (USW) stimulates bone modeling and remodeling, and accelerates the bone regeneration process. Based on these facts, an assumption can be made that USW can be applied for implant treatment to accelerate osseointegaration. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of USW on osseointegration of titanium implants using rat tibiae. For this purpose, histological and bone morphometoric analyses were carried out in rat proximal tibiae installed implant fixtures. Thirty Sprague-Dawlay rats had titanium implants installed on both sides of the proximal tibiae. The rats in the USW group received USW (27.12MHz for 20 min) 3 times a week, while the control group had no USW irradiation. At two and four weeks after implant operation, removal torque test demonstrated that the values in the USW group were much higher than those in the control group. The specimens of the tibiae in the USW group revealed a larger amount of new bone formation around the fixtures than those in the control group at 2 weeks after the operation. Though the mature lamellate bone tissues could be seen around the fixtures in the USW group at 4 weeks after the operation, little mature bone tissue was observed in the control group. Furthermore, the number of osteoclasts present in bone tissues surrounding the fixtures in the USW group was significantly higher than those in the control group 4 weeks after the operation. These results indicate that USW irradiation stimulated bone formation and increased bone remodeling in the bone tissue around the implant fixtures, and that USW can be a useful device for implant treatment.

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In treatment for patients with bite collapse lies the priority in identification of the cause and formulation of a treatment plan as to achieve stable occlusion. Such a treatment must follow the order — a thorough listing of problems, identification and elimination of the cause of the occlusal disorder, and formulation of a treatment plan. This requires not only examination directly related to patient's main complaint, but also more comprehensive examination and diagnosis, and frequent communication with the patient as to determine the goal of the treatment. In treatment for patients with unstable mandibular position or without anterior guidance dentists tend to depend on their intuition or experience, which often leads to prolongation of the treatment duration as well as unfavorable results. In such cases clinical paths play important role. Here we present a case of bite collapse with symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, in which we employed full mouth reconstruction, and the patient has a stable postoperative course.

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In my clinic one of the objectives of occlusal reconstruction is to stabilize chewing cycle. Occlusal reconstruction is performed based on analysis of the chewing cycle pattern, using medical electronic devices. The chewing cycle is measured at the time of initial examination, provisional restoration placement, final restoration placement, occlusal adjustment, and maintenance to obtain stepwise data for reference at re-evaluation. For the final restoration, in order to optimize the chewing cycle, the occlusal adjustment is simulated using a special articulator that assimilates with the chewing cycle before final adjustments made in-situ. In the present paper, through a clinical case I introduce step-by-step procedure that I follow and discuss how to integrate the data of chewing cycle at each stage.

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Today, there are various designs and materials in dental implant prosthetics. Different manufacturing methods also affect designs. Moreover, the advent of CAD/CAM has widen the variety of designs. I currently employ several kinds of CAD/CAM to produce prostheses in daily clinical practice. However, CAD/CAM is not always the most appropriate equipment. There are a wide range of cases from single tooth replacement to full mouth reconstruction and designs such as fixed, fixed-removable and removable superstructures with different maintainability. ①CAD/CAM has enabled fabrication of titanium, and passive fit may be achieved. ②Galvano crowns jointed by a substructure and screws are durable and removable (hence maintainable) and may facilitate replacement of prostheses. ③It is easier to replace prostheses or bridges on implants jointed by milled substructures, for anterior and molar parts are separable and replaceable piece by piece.

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8 years after a root canal treatment at our clinic a sizable periapical lesion was found along with abnormally large root canal and root apex. In fact root canal was so wide that conventional gutta-percha filling material could not be applied. As such biocompatible filling material, Pro Root MTA, which chemically bonds to the root canal walls, was employed. The lesion has regressed, and the post-treatment course has been stable.

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Graduated from dental school only six years ago, I am still inproficient at treatment procedures, but I am often more worried about legitimacy of my examination and diagnosis in daily practice. Interventions without grasping patient's pathological condition viz. what has been happening to the patient, often lead to unexpected results. Knowing my tendency to start with and repeat palliative or symptomatic treatments, I have been attempting to incorporate stomatological approach in examination and diagnosis process as to better grasp pathological condition and its cause, which in turn may lead to clearer and more comprehensive clinical path. Here I present and discuss a case of a patient with a chief complaint of sore right jaw and medical history of Meniere's disease. The symptom abated two weeks after the instruction on the postural and lifestyle habit and prescription of a modified Hawley bite plane, based on systematic examination. This paper is to be taken as an interim report, for this case is still at the stage of reassessment.

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