Team communication between dentists and dental technicians offers high-quality medical treatment for patients. When dentists and dental technicians understand dental treatments and laboratory procedures and talk to each other from an equal standpoint, good team communication between them can be established. However, undergraduate dental students do not sufficiently understand the content and processes of laboratory procedures because the subjects and hours in laboratory procedures have been reduced at present. Education on team communication between dentists and dental technicians is not sufficiently included in the training content of postgraduate training practice. It seems that at present, it is difficult for good team communication to be established between new graduate dentists and dental technicians. In view of this, the current status of the team communication between dentists and dental technicians in the present clinic was investigated, because a guideline for constructing team communications between dentists and dental technicians is given in the dental education before and after graduation. That is to say, the current status of the team communication of dentists and dental technicians was investigated by considering a questionnaire survey on the laboratory prescription card, which is the most important information means for connecting dentists with dental technicians in the dental clinic. The results were as follows: The entry items were insufficient on the laboratory prescription cards. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare such laboratory prescription cards that required items are entirely indicated as well as to enter them fully by dentists.

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The objectives of using a denture to treat a defect are preservation of remaining tissue and improvement in the functional recovery rate. Close cooperation between dentist and dental technician and a shared understanding of fundamental knowledge and technology, from denture design to production, are indispensable in order to successfully achieve a combination of these objectives. Furthermore, accurate communication from dentist to dental technician of all patient information gained from the preoperative examination and necessary for production of the prosthesis is essential for a successful treatment outcome. This information should be shared by both the dentist and the dental technician. It is extremely important to describe this information appropriately and to append other information as needed in order to convey this information from the dentist to the dental technician by means of a dental technician specification. While this exchange of opinions by means of accompanying materials is of course useful in the denture production process, these materials are also valuable for reevaluating the design of the prosthesis and handling by the technician in case a problem related to preservation of remaining tissue or improvement in the functional recovery rate arises during a subsequent visit by the patient. It is important for the dentist and the dental technician to consider the following six factors using the same criteria when treating a patient using a removable partial denture:(1) minimization of denture movement, (2) occlusion, (3) reduction of burden on the abutment, (4) consideration of periodontal tissue, (5) consideration of sensation, and (6) aesthetic considerations. To that end, the authors have found clinical application of a“design chart” to be useful.

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As for the team communication between clinical and technological sides in the denture treatment, a smooth cooperative teamwork must be established in its target treatment through individual adequate recognitions concerning the main points of sequential procedures from examination, diagnosis, therapeutic designing, impression taking and bite registration and then setting performed by a dentist on the clinical side as well as concerning the main points of technical procedures indirectly performed by a dental technician on the technological side in order to achieve the most improved preservation of remained tissues with an increased rate of functional restoration, being the final target of treatment. At present when an ultra-aged society is coming, the demand of denture treatment has been enhanced more and more. In response to the enhanced patient's demand, various modes of denture treatment have been introduced and the dental technology has advanced remarkably. In particular, a technical procedure by means of partial parallel milling representative of rigid support or of Konuskronen requires very complicated working processes. In addition, the elasticity is also required including such an occlusal construction as being harmonious with the jaw function or such tooth crown morphology as being prepared in consideration of periodontal tissues together with a lot of information from the clinical side required as well in the denture treatment. In this study, therefore, the dental technical procedures presently performed by referring to varied individual information are newly arranged and summarized so as that these complicated technical processes and working steps could be performed more easily and accurately.

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It is important that a dentist and a dental technician share information about form and function of the restoration to be provided for the patient. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the methods and the contents of communication that a dentist establishes with a dental technician in treatment for fixed prosthesis. The communication is not one-way in which a dentist directs some work content to a dental technician; rather, it is a two-way communication of exchange that includes dental technician's knowledge and skill toward the dentist. A dentist must communicate with a dental technician to express four factors of biocompatibility, function, esthetics and biomechanics in the fixed prosthesis. Provisional restorations are used for embodiment as early as possible, and each other's communication enables smooth sharing of the image of the final prosthesis. It is necessary to inform the dental technician of the contents that are required for fabrication of fixed prosthesis and that cannot be obtained from the model. The fixed prosthesis satisfactory for the patient can be made through cooperation between dentist and dental technician. Furthermore, the strong relationship of mutual trust can realize more reliable fixed prosthesis.

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The fabrication of a fixed prosthesis is influenced by the communication between the dentist and the laboratory technician. Especially for tooth-colored restoration of anterior teeth, the laboratory technician has the difficult task of understanding the shade selected by the dentist and reproducing it in the final restoration. Conventional shade analysis techniques using the Vita shade guide often result in subjective analysis and a resultant miscommunication of color. Over the years, many different techniques including picture-taking, drawing of diagrams, and using multiple shade guides have been formulated to help overcome this problem. Recently, digital shade analysis systems have been designed to eliminate the subjectivity of color analysis and provide precise information for laboratory buildup and fabrication. However, even these techniques have not completely erased the difficulties involved in communicating the choice of the proper shade for tooth-colored restoration. Many dentists are only familiar with techniques they were taught in dental school and/or their residency program, and they are unaware of other, superior methods that can be used. This review introduces various shade analysis systems that can be performed in dental clinical practice. Further, it highlights the importance of communication between the dentist, technician, and patient for the fabrication and delivery of aesthetic restorations.

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Purpose: Unilateral chewing requires a greater number of chewing strokes up to the point of the first swallowing. The rate of storage of ground food particles in the oral vestibule is said to be high during unilateral chewing. However, influence of the masticatory method, that is free-sided or unilateral chewing, involved in masticatory efficiency has not been elucidated. On that point, in order to clearly represent the effects that free-sided (bilateral) chewing and unilateral chewing have on the chewing efficiency, our purpose was to examine the difference of the functions of both free -sided chewing and unilateral chewing.
Methods: We used 116 dentate subjects with normal occlusal relations, and compared the number of chewing strokes for peanuts up to the point of the first swallowing (abbreviated as “chewing st rokes”) for both free-sided chewing and unilateral chewing. Following this, we made calculations regarding the amount of saliva secretion, occlusal force, and contact points of posterior teeth. Based on the averages of three parameters (saliva secretion, occlusal force and contact points of posterior teeth), allthe subjects were classified into two groups (high score group and low score group). In the two groups, we counted the difference in the number of free-sided chewing and unilateral chewing. And also in two groups, the amount of remaining coarse particles immediately prior to the first swallowing was investigated between free-sided chewing and unilateral chewing.
Results: The number of chewing strokes by free-sided chewing for all subjects was 10% less than that of unilateral chewing. Furthermore, the numbers of chewing strokes by free -sided chewing were all less than those of unilateral chewing in both groups on three parameters. The amount of remaining coarse particles by free-sided chewing was significantly smaller than that of unilateral chewing in the low score group of saliva secretion and occlusal force.
Conclusions: The number of chewing strokes by free-sided chewing was less than that of unilateral chewing in both of the high score group and low score group on the amount of saliva secretion, occlusalf orce, and contact points of posterior teeth.

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Purpose: Oral care and oral treatment are promoted in health care service facilities. However, disorders of eating, mastication and swallowing and care management of meal were get behind. This study investigated them in health care service facilities.
Methods: Doctors who work in facilities were screened for care management of meal using questionnaire. Inpatients were screened for age, meal menu, vertical stop, prosthetic treatment, satisfaction of mastication and difference of meal menu in the home and in the facility.
Results: Doctors and care workers have little understanding of mastication. Inpatients were satisfied to be able to eat rice in the home and in the facility. It is of paramount importance to have remaining teeth, to maintain vertical stop and to have prosthetic treatment.
Conclusions: Education on the importance of mastication is needed. The research results show that new action and diagnosis method for deciding menus aiming at mastication of steamed rice need to be developed.

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Purpose: This study investigated the possibility of objectively evaluating denture tolerance with different designs of upper major connector through electroencephalographic examination.
Methods: Nine healthy dentate subjects wore five designs of palatal plates (All palatal type, Anterior palatal type, Horseshoe type, Palatal bar type, and Palatal strap type). Electromyograms (EMG) from the masseter and the posterior temporal muscles during mastication and electroencephalograms (EEG) before and after mastication were simultaneously recorded and analyzed. In addition to evaluation by visual analogue scale (VAS), questionnaire surveys consisting of five comfort parameters were also done.
Results: VAS values showed uncomfortable feeling for all questions on wearing each type of palatal plate, particulaly the Total palatal type, Horseshoe type, and Palatal strap type. There were no significant differences between control and all palatal plates in EMG evaluations. After mastication, %α in EEG decreased and %β increased, both significantly, compared with those before mastication. The slope of 1/f fluctuation in α-wave increased after mastication significantly. The variation of EEG (%α, %β and 1/f fluctuation in α-wave) before and after mastication wer similar to the results of VAS value.
Conclusions: Denture tolerance with different design of upper major connector influenced the higher center of the brain and suggested that the possibility of detecting changes might be indicated electroencephalographically.

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Purpose: Tthis study investigated the color stability of composite resins for a facing crown cured with a high output photo-curing unit (Hyper LII, YAMAHACHI DENTAL MFG., CO.).
Methods: Four brands of composite resins for a facing crown after polymerization with Hyper LII were immersed in coffee. Color measurement was carried out before and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after immersion, and the results were compared.
Results: 1.After immersion in coffee, the L^*values decreased gradually, the a^* values showed little change, and the b^*values increased gradually in all resins.2.The difference in the color difference values (ΔE^*ab) between each material became greater with time;the AE*ab after 4 weeks immersion were from 3.0 [Dentacolor (DEC), dentin specimen] to 6.3 [Solidex (SOL), enamel specimen] on polished surfaces, and from 0.9 [Gradia (GRA), dentin specimen] to 5.2 (SOL, enamel specimen) on non-polished surfaces.However, the ΔE^*ab were 1/3 to 1/5 better than those of our previous studies. 3.The enamel specimens showed larger color differences than the dentin specimens. 4.When polished surfaces were compared with non-polished surfaces, Cesead II (CEII), DEC and SOL showed almost equal color differences while GRA showed larger color differences.
Conclusions: This study suggests that composite resins for a facing crown cured with a high output photo-curing unit result in a decrease of color changes with time and an improvement of color stability.

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Patient: A 70-year-old male presented with a history or chief complaint of burning and prickly sensation in the oral cavity at two years after dental treatments.We diagnosed that this symptom might be due to hypersensitivity reaction to the Zn, Co and Hg used in dental prostheses based on the results of patch testing and metal analysis.After removal of all the suspected metals, the symptom disappeared.
Discussion: Many alternative causes have been proposed for burning mouth.As reported previously, mucosal allergic reactions have developed into burning mouth in patients.It is advisable to perform patch tests in selected patients to identify a possible etiological agent. Although patch testing for these symptoms might provide useful information, it is difficult to characterize the significance of contact allergy.Therefore, careful diagnosis, treatment and follow-up are necessary alleviate to symptoms of such case.
Conclusion: This case showed that metal allergy might be related to the condition of burning mouth.

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Patient: A 50-year-old female who wore a cast-clasp-supported removable partial denture (RPD) complained of speech disturbance, because the clasps disturbed her tongue movement during speech. She wished to receive dental implant treatment, but it was difficult to solve the esthetic problem by the planned implant-supported fixed partial denture.Therefore, the RPD (overdenture) supported by magnetic attachments was inserted to recover the speech disturbance.
Discussion: The treatment outcome of this patient was evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire. The results suggested that the RPD with magnetic attachments improved the patient's pronunciation, esthetics and quality of life.
Conclusion: It was suggested that the magnetic attachment overdenture effectively solved the speech disturbance.

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Patient: 77-year-old completely edentulous female was treated for a malignant carcinoma with an upper left posterior maxilla resection.Existing complete dentures were modified by an immediate surgical obturator with resin.A definitive obturator was fabricated following healing of the site to recover speech and chewing function.
Discussion: Thermoplastic wax was used for border molding of the custom tray and conventional impression procedures were followed.A buccal flange type obturator was utilized to reduce weight. Flat cusped posterior teeth were used to reduce stress on the residual ridge and facilitate occl usal contact and balance of the prosthesis.
Conclusion: The patient was satisfied with the recovery of chewing and pronunciation.Expected chewing function existed on the non-resected side.Speech and pronunciation were similar to the preoperative condition with complete dentures.Prosthetic rehabilitation with a maxillary obturator prosthesis may provide good speech and adequate chewing function following partial resection of the edentulous maxilla.

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