We investigated pre and post-perative functions such as voluntary tongue movement, articulatory function, feeding function, and swallowing function in 36 patients with ankyloglossia, according to the degree of the ankyloglossia and the age of the patient who received operation for the ankyloglossia. In all the cases, normal voluntary tongue movement and normal feeding function was acquired after the operation. In 29 cases out of the 36 cases, normal articulatory function was acquired and in 28 cases, there was normal swallowing function. In the cases in which normal articulatory function or normal swallowing function has not been acquired yet after the operation, speech therapy or myofunctional therapy has been continued. It is of interest that the patients under 2.5 years of age acquired these functions without any postoperative treatment. It is necessary to investigate pre and post-perative functions in patients with ankyloglossia in order to clarify the indication and the desirable time for frenulectomy.

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In the present study, a clinical observation was performed on oral diseases in newborn and infant except for those with cleft lip and palate. Among affected newborns and infants who were treated in our department during the period from August 1993 to July 2002, 95 cases except for those with cleft lip and palate were selected for this study. As for the age of patient at the first visit, newborns below 28 days and infants from 9 months up to below 12 months post partus were predominantly encountered. Especially, most of affected newborns were within a week post partus. Oral diseases frequently observed were congenital teeth and epithelial pearl in newborns and abnormality of the frenum and oral laceration in infants. As for their routes for visiting our department, most of affected newborns were referred from the pediatric department in our Hospital, while most of affected infants attended our department spontaneously. Both affected newborns and infants were generally treated with their course observation.

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We examined papers published in the Journal of Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and lectures presented at the institute.
The number of papers published in the Journal of Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Vol. 1 No. 1 to Vol. 11 No. 2 totaled 207.
A total number of 298 institutions were represented in the papers, with 144 coming from dental faculties in medical schools and hospitals, including collaboration authors.
By speciality, oral and maxillofacial surgery department accounted for around 235 of the authors, approximately 80.7% of the total authors. Of the 207 papers published, 44 were on tumors (20%), 31 on injuries (15%), 27 on cysts (13%) and the remainder on a variety of topics, including dental abnormalities, patient statistics, cleft lip and palate, inflammations and syndromes.
As for the lectures delivered, 117 were on tumors, 70 on cysts, 64 on injuries and the remainder on cleft lip and palate, syndromes and inflammation.
Of the main key words from all papers, “pediatric”occurred in 39 (18.8%), “the infant patient”in 14 (6.8%) and “infant”in 10 (4.8%).

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The double lip, an uncommon condition, is a redundant fold of noninflammatory, hypertrophic tissue in the mucosa of the lip. A 12-year old male had noticed a swelling of upper lip since April 2000. Although the swelling had not grown, he visited at our department for further examination on 9thApril 2001. Upper lip was symmetrically swollen, elastic soft and the superficial mucosa was normal. There was no induration and tenderness. Although medication of antibiotics was performed under a clinical diagnosis of chronic cheilitis, the swelling had no change. Excision was performed under general anesthesia on 31st August 2001. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed that the swelling was consisted of normal lip tissue, involving minor salivary gland. Finally we had got a final diagnosis of the double lip.

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Lymphangioma is a neoplastic lesion caused by hyperplasia of lymphatic vessels. Most cases of lymphangioma consist of congenital tissue malformation, which usually occurs during infancy. Because diffuse type lingual lymphangioma often develops macroglossia, various dysfunctions may be accompanied.
In this study, we report an infant patient who was found to have lymphangioma immediately after birth and underwent 4 operations at the following ages: 5 months, 1 year, 6 years, and 12 years. This infant had been receiving follow-up attention for a long period of time without developing various dysfunctions. The infant visited our hospital, complaining of swelling in the left floor of the mouth. After the infant was operated on based on the clinical diagnosis of ranula. The infant was diagnosed as having lymphangioma according to the histopathological diagnosis. After that, the infant developed macroglossia at 1, 6, and 12 years of age and laser resection of the tumor was performed. Although no dysfunction, open bite, or misalignment of teeth were observed, we consider that the infant needs to be continuously followed up closely from now on dueto the possibility of recurrence.

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We report a case of calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with odontoma developing in the maxilla, and add a brief discussion.
A 7-year-old boy was referred to our hospital on October 20, 2000, complaining of swelling of the right cheek. Oral examination revealed swelling and oppressive pain in the buccal gingiva of the right maxilla.
X-P findings showed a radiolucent lesion involving the right maxillary sinus. Computed tomography findings revealed a high-density area in the low-density lesion. The tooth germs of right lateral incisor, canine, first and second premolar teeth, and the second molar tooth were positionally deviated remarkably by the lesion. A tentative diagnosis of maxillary cyst was made, and biopsy and fenestration were performed. Pathological diagnosis of calcifying odontogenic cyst was made.
Enucleation of the tumor was conducted on March 27, 2001. In order to raise the likelihood of a cure, radical shaving of the surrounding bone was done. After the abrasion of thelesion, the tooth germs were judged to have been preserved. Post operative course was uneventful. One year and 9 months postoperatively, the tooth germs are in the tendency to recover the position as compared with the corresponding tooth germs on the other side of the maxilla.

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[in Japanese]

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