Since occupational oral health programs are often conducted based on voluntary participation, the program participation rate is generally low, indicating that actual participants in the program are concerned about their oral health. This study aimed to compare and identify the characteristics of participants and non-participants in the program, such as their oral health status and health behaviors.
 Subjects were 3,142 employees of a company that shifted from voluntary (1986-2001) to mandatory (2002) participation in the occupational oral health program. Using a questionnaire survey conducted in 2002, subjects were divided into participation and non-participation groups. The participation group comprised persons who had participated at least once voluntarily, and the non-participation group comprised persons who had not participated at all. We compared the oral health status and health behaviors in 2002 by gender and age group.
 The number of decayed and missing teeth per person was likely to be higher in the non-participation than in the participation group. Regarding the periodontal condition (CPI), the non-participation group presented a smaller number of sextants with codes 0 and 1, and a larger number of sextants with codes 3 and 4 than the participation group. Regarding oral health behaviors, many of the non-participation group did not have the habit of brushing their teeth after lunch, and a significant difference was observed in all age and gender groups. Many subjects in the non-participation group also did not practice Breslow's healthy habits. As the results of analysis of factors affecting participation in the program using multiple logistic regression analysis, the occupational influence was significantly marked irrespective of the gender and age group. Among occupational groups, researchers most frequently participated in the programs voluntarily.
 If an occupational oral health program is conducted based on voluntary participation, many people who are not concerned with their oral health status and behaviors do not participate in the program, suggesting a high risk of missing an opportunity to help those who require health care guidance or advice.

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 Pneumonia is a common sickness in the elderly. Oral care in institutions reduces pneumonia and influenza infections in the elderly. Institutions that provide oral care are increasing in Japan. This study surveyed factors associated with the incidence of a fever and pneumonia in long-term care insurance institutions in the central region of Hokkaido prefecture. The study subjects were 200 elderly people who received basic oral care, and 254 elderly people who received more advanced oral care in institutions. The survey items were the age, sex, height, weight, number of days with a fever more than or equal to 37℃, any incidence of pneumonia, number of days in the hospital due to pneumonia, any incidence of influenza, number of days in the hospital due to influenza, any influenza vaccination, any pneumococcal vaccination, and the food intake status. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of variables related to the incidence of fever and pneumonia were evaluated using the unconditional logistic regression model. The results of multivariate analysis were as follows: Tubal feeding (OR=19.33, 95%CI: 6.94-53.86), the intake of soft food (OR=2.16, 95%CI: 1.34-3.49), and having no pneumococcal vaccination (OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.36-0.92) were significantly associated with the risk of a fever. Being aged 91 years or more (OR=6.57, 95%CI: 1.36-31.70), having a BMI of less than 18.5 (OR=2.94, 95%CI: 1.18-7.33), having complications of cancer (OR=3.93, 95%CI: 1.09-14.2), tubal feeding (OR=5.35, 95%CI: 1.07-26.75), and having no pneumococcal vaccination (OR=0.21, 95%CI: 0.07-0.67) were significantly associated with the risk of pneumonia. The content of oral care by professional caregivers and nurses was not associated with the risk of a fever and pneumonia.
 This study suggests that elderly people in long-term care insurance institutions with tubal feeding are likely to have a fever and pneumonia.

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 This study investigated the effectiveness of a dental health education program run by vocational trainee dentists for junior high school students. The program aimed to change students' behavior and increase their health awareness. The program included contents designed to teach the importance of taking individual responsibility for health.
 In a comparison of students' responses to pre- and post-questionnaires, several findings were noted:
1) The post-questionnaire showed a marked number of students responding that they began to brush their teeth more than before, and, furthermore, that they began to take more care of their overall health, as well as their oral health.
2) The post-questionnaire showed that the number of girls who did not see a doctor unless advised to do so decreased.
3) In a factor analysis of the post-questionnaire's questions on health awareness, a three-factor solution, namely <Self-responsibility>, <Dependence on parents>, and <Consultation behavior>, was identified. These factors could not be identified in the pre-questionnaire. <Self-responsibility> was significantly associated with both the strength of impression of the program's content and behavioral changes,while <Dependence on parents> was associated with only the strength of impression of the program's content.
 The results suggest that the program could lead to a desirable behavioral change in students, and that students' previously vague health consciousness may be divided into <Self-responsibility> and <Dependence on parents> after the program. The knowledge and behavior of the students regarding their dental health might be related to their general health awareness. Finally, it is considered that dental health education programs that include instruction in a <Self-responsibility> lead to improved health awareness and positive behavioral changes.

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 Some guardians worry that the extrinsic tooth stains found during an infant's tooth examination are dental plaque, tooth discoloration, or dental caries. Tooth stains would be influenced by the opening and closing conditions of the mouth, rather than tea-drinking habits. In this study, we investigated the existence of tooth stains and the oral health status, i.e., prevalence of dental caries, mouth opening/closing.
 The subjects were 328 children at 3-year-old tooth examinations in Hamamatsu. They were examined for tooth stains and mouth opening/closing in addition to performing standard tooth examination. At the same time, their drinking habits, including tea, were investigated with questionnaires.
 As the results, there was a tendency where by the prevalence of dental caries was lower in cases with high numbers of stained teeth. Those who showed mouth opening had a significantly higher percentage of stained teeth and open bite.
 Barley tea (mugicha) was drunk most commonly, and ordinary green tea (sencha) was the next. The children who commonly selected ordinary green tea had a significantly higher percentage of stained teeth. Adversely, the children who commonly selected barley tea had a significantly lower percentage of stained teeth. Except tea, milk was drunk most commonly, and fruit beverages came next. The children who commonly selected carbonated or isotonic drinks except tea showed a significantly higher prevalence of dental caries.
 Consequently, it is suggested that children who have stained teeth have a lower caries risk; however, attention should be paid to development of the oral function, i.e., mastication and breathing.

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 In accordance with recent views, it is necessary to thoroughly reevaluate biological apatite/calcium phosphate solubility. Dissolved [Ca] and [Pi] in aqueous lactic acid/dissolution media, from extracted first premolars, were measured with dissolution times of 5 and 10 min by ICP-MS or ICP-AES/OES. Despite the complex dissolution phenomena that should include dissolution and recrystallization on the enamel surface, (1) 52-276 ppb [Ca] and 11-278 ppb [Pi] per crown were dissolved in 10 mL aqueous lactic acid at pH 5.2 for 5-10 min, rate-decreased compared with earlier works, (2) the dissolution rates decreased at pH 5.7/6.5 within 5-10 min when compared to pH 5.2, (3) the dissolution rate mostly increased within 5-10 min but leveled out or decreased in some teeth, inferring several subpatterns of solubility and the possible simultaneous progression of dissolution and recrystallization, (4) when 100-200 ppb [Ca] was added as HAP-200, it increased within 5-10 min but at a decreased rate.

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Abstract in Japanese

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