The clinical and histological courses of an antigeninduced arthritis of the rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were investigated. The phase up to 3 days after induction of arthritis, bleeding, hyperemia, edema and inflammatory cells predominantly exudated leukocytes were remarkably observed in the subsynovial layer. In this phase, significant joint swelling and decrease of withdrawal reflex threshold (WRT) to a noxious pressure were observed. It was considered to be an acute stage of TMJ arthritis. Following 1 week, the predominantly exudated subsynovial inflammatory cells changed into lymphocytes and the number of inflammatory cells gradually decreased. Subsynovial fibrosis began to appear instead of inflammatory cell exudates, and synovial hyperplasia and villous formation were also observed. Joint swelling and decrease of WRT were less severe than those in an acute stage, but they were still observed significantly. This phase of the arthritis was considered to be a subacute stage. In the following time period, few inflammatory cells were found in the subsynovial layer and severe synovial hyperplasia with villous formation was observed. In the condyle and the eminence, thinning and irregularity of the articular cartilage were remarkably observed. The decrease of WRT was still found 3 weeks after induction, but in the following course, there was no difference on the sham-induced side. It was considered to be a chronic stage. Even 12 weeks after induction, a disorganized series of articular cartilage was still observed.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rhBMP-2 on wound healing around implants placed in irradiated bone.
Fifty-four male Wistar rats were used. A single dose of 30 Gy irradiation from a Linac source was delivered to the right lower leg of all rats. The left leg was kept as a non-irradiated site. A pure titanium screw with a block of Poly D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid and gelatin sponge (PGS) containing 100 ng rhBMP-2 was installed to the bilateral tibial proximal metaphysis three months after irradiation. The rats in which the screw and PGS without rhBMP-2 were implanted and those in which only the screw was implanted served as controls. The rats were sacrificed one, two, and eight weeks after the placement. Non-decalcified specimens stained with toluidine blue were used for histological analyses. The bone volume in the medullary cavity and bone-implant contact ratio was also quantified with a contact microradiogram.
The results were as follows:
1. Administration of rhBMP-2 promoted bone formation around the implant of the irradiated group.
2. Administration of rhBMP-2 improved the boneimplant contact of the irradiated group in the early time period.
The results indicate that simultaneous administration of rhBMP-2 is effective in implant placement into irradiated bone.

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Prosthetic Speech Appliances (PSA) were applied to 21 patients who underwent resection of the oropharynx due to cancer. The relationships between the effect of the appliance and resected area, surgical reconstructive procedure and velum shape after surgery were investigated. Patient's speech was evaluated by cephalography with contrast media and a standardized speech intelligibility test consisting of 100 Japanese syllables. Velopharyngeal function was assessed by a soft blowing test, perceptual evaluation of the consonant /b/ and hypernasality of /i/and nasopharyngoscopy. The results were as follows:
1. Velopharyngeal function and speech intelligibility remarkably improved with PSA.
2. Based upon statistical analyses with PSA, (1) lower velopharyngeal function scores were statistically significant for patients with a v-shaped rear edge, (2) lower intelligibility were statistically significant for patients with tongue resection, and (3) there was no significant difference in velopharyngeal function and speech intelligibility among flaps and length of soft palate.
3. Based upon cephalographic results, soft palate obturators were applied to patients with less than 1/2 of the normal soft palate length, speech bulbs were applied to those with at least 1/2 of the normal length, and palatal lift prostheses were applied to those with the normal soft palate length.
The results indicated that the shape of the rear edge of the soft palate can be closely correlated with velopharyngeal function, and that resection of the tongue has a strong influence on intelligibility.

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In case of treatment of patients with cleft lip and/or palate, it is necessary to comprehend complicating malformations. Therefore, the statistical analysis of patients with cleft lip and/or palate who visited our department between May 1967 and April 2000 was described. The 365 primary cases were classified into three types: cleft palate (137), cleft lip and palate (131), and cleft lip (97). The frequency of complicating malformations was highest in patients with cleft palate (31.4%), followed by patients with cleft lip and palate (18.3%), and patients with cleft lip (7.2%). Congenital heart diseases were the most frequent complicating malformation in all patients with cleft and/or palate. Therefore, it is considered necessary to investigate and grasp complicating malformations such as congenital heart diseases especially when operating on patients with cleft lip and/or palate.

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Recently organ transplantations have been done in many hospitals in Japan. However, the dentists have no guidelines for dental management of the posttransplant patients receiving immunosuppresive agents.
In this report, the intraoral findings of 10 long-term survivors of liver transplantation for biliary atresia are presented. The mean age was 8.5 years. There was about 2.5-fold higher incidence of dental caries of deciduous teeth in the patients compared to the average of the Japanese. Nevertheless the patients seem not to be susceptible to severe gingivitis. Cyclosporininduced hyperplasia was recognized in one of two patients treated by cyclosporin therapy, but there was no gingival hyperplasia in the tacrolimus group. In addition, the patients showed no disorder in teeth eruption but tended to demonstrate malocclusion such as Angle class III, crowding in the upper dental arch or open bite. The findings suggest that a liver transplant recipient receiving immunosuppresive agents for a long time could be at risk for various dental problems and oral disease.

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A buccal mucosa protector was fabricated using acrylic resin pads and a lingual bar, and applied to a comatose patient with self-inflicted bite wound of the buccal mucosa. The wounds were healed well a week after its application. Advantages of this appliance are as follows:
1. It is easy to make without taking dental impressions.
2. Easy to insert and remove.
3. No disturbance of mouth opening.

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