Metastatic tumors in the oral and maxillofacial region are rare, accounting for approximately 1–2% of all oral malignancies. Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is also uncommon, occurring in 2–3% of all lung cancers as a subtype of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. We report a rare case of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma was diagnosed through histopathological examination of a gingival mass in the left mandible. The patient was a man in his 70s who presented with bleeding and swelling of the left mandibular gingiva. An elastic soft, easily bleeding mass was observed, and PET-CT revealed a 3 cm tumor in the apex of the left lung. Based on clinical course and histopathological findings, the diagnosis was lung sarcomatoid carcinoma with gingival metastasis. The patient underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy targeting both the lung and oral lesions, which initially controlled the tumor, but he died due to recurrent pneumonia. Gingival metastasis of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is extremely rare and can be clinically difficult to distinguish from benign lesions. This case highlights the importance of early biopsy to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze responses from new students at the Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu Dental University, focusing on how they became aware of the department, their reasons for applying, and the influence of COVID-19 on their university selection behavior. A total of 380 students from the 2021–2024 academic years completed a self-administered questionnaire. A two-proportion Z-test (P < 0.05) was used to compare responses between the pandemic period (2021–2022) and the post-pandemic period (2023–2024). No significant differences were observed in gender distribution or the proportion of students entering directly from high school. However, the number of students from distant regions such as Hokkaido, Miyagi, and Okinawa increased in the post-pandemic period. In both periods, the most frequently reported reason for choosing the department was the “ high national exam pass rate. ” Notably, the proportion of students who first learned about the department through “ cram school or prep school teachers ” significantly increased after the pandemic. This rise in students from remote areas may reflect reduced psychological barriers to relocation. Additionally, the growth in awareness via cram or prep school teachers likely relates to the resumption of in-person classes and counseling post-pandemic. These findings suggest that COVID-19 influenced how students obtained information and made decisions about university applications, offering valuable insights for future admission outreach strategies.

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The purpose of this study is to support educational and public relations activities, to examine whether COVID-19 has had an impact on university selection behavior by analyzing questionnaires to clarify how new students knew the department and decided taking the entrance examination. The survey asked 100 new students (FY2021-2024) to answer several questions. To investigate the COVID-19 pandemic's impact, a test was conducted on the difference in maternal ratios between the pandemic-phase (FY2021-2022) and the convergence-phase (FY2023-2024). There was no significant difference between the pandemicphase and the convergence-phase in the percentage of students who passed the entrance examination at the first attempt, and the opportunities to know this department. No significant difference was found between the two phases in the Kyushu and Chugoku regions, as well as in the Fukuoka and Hiroshima prefectures, which were the top regions of origin. The proportion of students with non-dental medical professionals in own relationship significantly increased from the pandemic-phase (12.0%) to the convergence-phase (30.0%). The top reason for applying was “good pass rate for national examinations” (45.0%), which did not differ significantly between the two phases, while “attracted to Kitakyushu” increased significantly from the pandemic-phase (2.0%) to the convergence-phase (14.0%). It was suggested that COVID-19 increased medical professionals' interest in the dentistry's field and increased their consideration of this department as a career path for their children. Educational and public relations activities that also convey the attractiveness of Kitakyushu-City, and the continuous dissemination of university information, is considered effective as admissions public relations.

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The purpose of perioperative oral function management during surgery are to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and aspiration pneumonia, prevent surgical site infection (SSI) and focal infection, assist in resuming oral intake, and avoid or reduce the risk of oral problems related to tracheal intubation. VAP is the most frequent infection in the intensive care setting, occurring in 9-27% of all intubated patients. In adults, it is important to focus on eliminating oral infections and establishing good oral hygiene before surgery. However, there have been very few studies on perioperative oral hygiene management for children, and the method of oral hygiene management for children undergoing cardiac surgery has been questioned. Therefore, this study examined oral hygiene management methods to reduce the number of bacteria in saliva of infants undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The method was to swab the saliva of the affected infants and culture the specimens for bacteria. The results of the study of oral hygiene management methods suggested that wiping with a povidone-iodine-containing mouthwash after surgery reduced the number of bacteria in saliva. Dental hygiene faculty, especially those responsible for undergraduate education, must keep in mind that students are expected to be scientifically competent to perform their duties after graduation. To support this education, we recognize that the challenge is to become personnel who can promote research with a solid clinical foundation.

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Food texture is a critical sensory attribute that strongly influences food preference, mastication, and swallowing. The frequent use of texture-related onomatopoeic terms in Japanese, including “mochi-mochi,” “kari-kari,” and “shakishaki,” suggests that texture plays a pivotal role in food perception and eating behavior. During mastication, texture is detected via mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligament, oral mucosa, and jaw-closing muscle spindles. These signals regulate masticatory force and frequency. During swallowing, texture information is used to determine whether the bolus is safe to swallow. Thus, oral texture perception is essential for efficient and safe feeding behavior. Despite its importance, the physiological mechanisms underlying texture perception remain poorly understood, as prior research has primarily relied on instrumental measurements and human sensory evaluation. One major obstacle has been the lack of appropriate animal models for investigating texture perception. To address this, we established behavioral evaluation systems in rats under conditions that exclude gustatory and olfactory cues. Using conditioned aversion and preference learning paradigms, we demonstrated that rats can discriminate various texture features, including viscosity, springiness, hardness, and particulate properties. This review summarizes our behavioral models and highlights their potential application in combination with neuroscience techniques such as manipulation of neuronal activity, genetargeted receptor manipulation, and circuit mapping. These approaches offer new opportunities to clarify the neural mechanisms and receptor systems involved in oral texture perception.

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For long-term stability of prosthetic rehabilitation in edentulous areas, the most critical factor is the formulation of an optimal treatment plan based on thorough preoperative examination and diagnosis. However, during the actual implant placement surgery, the key to clinical success lies in whether the implant fixture can be positioned precisely as planned preoperatively. To achieve accurate implant positioning, guided surgery using surgical templates (static guides) has become widely adopted, with numerous studies reporting higher accuracy compared to freehand techniques. Nevertheless, the use of static guides can be limited in posterior molar regions, especially when the interincisal opening is restricted, making it difficult to perform surgery exactly as planned. This article aims to discuss the clinical utility of the dynamic navigation system (dynamic guides), which has been increasingly adopted in recent years, in comparison with conventional static guidance techniques.

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The ability to regenerate previously lost tissues holds the potential to address a broad spectrum of diseases. For clinicians, regenerative therapy represents a promising and potentially optimal strategy to meet patients’ therapeutic needs. In the field of dentistry, autologous bone grafting has been widely employed for many decades and continues to be considered the gold standard for bone regeneration. Since the 1980s, numerous regenerative approaches such as guided tissue regeneration (GTR), biologically active substances such as enamel matrix derivatives and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), have been developed. These techniques have demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes. However, current treatment modalities remain limited in their capacity to regenerate extensive tissue defects. Most existing regenerative therapies, excluding autologous bone grafting, primarily rely on the activation of host-derived undifferentiated cells, without incorporating cellular components directly. Thus, the inclusion of exogenous cells is considered a critical advancement in next-generation regenerative therapy. Among cell-based approaches, multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as key players in periodontal regeneration. These cell-based therapies are expected to provide improved regenerative outcomes compared to conventional methods, and the field of regenerative dentistry is anticipated to evolve rapidly. In this review, we summarize the historical development of regenerative therapies in dentistry and discuss the present status of clinical research. We also explore future perspectives and unresolved challenges in the application of regenerative medicine to dental practice.

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