The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with untreated decayed teeth (DT) in male sales workers. The participants were recruited by screening a pool of Japanese registrants in an online database for eligibility for inclusion in the study. Between 20 February 2015 and 11 March 2015, those deemed eligible were asked to complete a questionnaire on the status of their oral health. Responses from a total of 142 male sales workers aged between 30 and 49 years were analyzed. Of these, 40 reported DT and 102 no untreated decayed teeth (NDT). The percentage of participants with DT was higher than that with NDT among night shift workers (p<0.001). A higher percentage of participants with DT reported pain when eating or drinking something cold (p=0.041), pain in the teeth or gingiva (p<0.001), or frequent stomatitis (p=0.030). A higher percentage of participants with DT reported eating between meals (p=0.027) and a lower percentage visiting a dental clinic in the past 6 months (p=0.017) compared with among participants with NDT. Those with NDT were more likely to report an inability to visit a dental clinic when they wanted to (p=0.033), but those with DT were more likely to report that their reasons for not visiting a dental clinic were that multiple visits were required for treatment (p=0.012) or that they did not like the treatment (p=0.005). Working the night shift (Odds Ratio [OR], 3.492; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.347–8.725) and visiting a dental clinic in the past 6 months (OR, 0.084; 95%CI, 0.010–0.733) were identified as independent variables correlated with leaving DT untreated. Requiring oral health education and dental checkups at least once every 6 months may have a positive effect on oral health among male sales workers, especially those doing night shifts.

Many studies have investigated age-related change in normal occlusion and during the post-retention phase of orthodontic treatment. None, however, have investigated such change in malocclusion. The purpose of this study was to compare age-related change in Angle Class I crowding with that in normal occlusion. Dental casts obtained from 10 men and 2 women in their 20s and then again in their 40s were digitized with a 3-dimensional laser scanner to measure anterior crowding, angulation, inclination, andarch width and length. A paired t -test was used to evaluate change in these values betweenthe two sets of casts. A student’s t -test was used to compare values between the crowdingand normal groups. The casts obtained from individuals with untreated Angle Class Icrowding revealed that anterior crowding increased with age due to a decrease in thelength of the maxillary arch. Clear lingual inclination of the maxillary incisors and mesiolingual inclination of the maxillary canines were also observed. A decrease was observedin the anterior arch width and an increase in crowding due to lingual inclination of themandibular canines in the mandible. The space between the mandibular central incisors and between the mandibular lateral incisors and canines was particularly associated withan increase in crowding, suggesting that this was age-related. A comparison betweenpatients in their 40s with Angle Class I crowding and those with normal occlusion revealedthat the increase in maxillary anterior crowding was greater in the former. Mandibularanterior crowding increased at around the same rate, however.

The development and use of tailored interventions in overcoming barriers to optimum health in long-term care facility residents is of the highest importance. One successful approach to improving health outcomes is the use of a checklist by health care providers. Despite the evidence of the success of such checklists in nursing and medicine, there is little evidence on their use in improving dental outcomes. This study investigated whether an intervention comprising the daily use of a checklist for oral care by nursing staff supplemented by random inspections by a charge nurse resulted in lower dental plaque scores in patient participants at a long-term care facility (n=19) as compared with in those at another long-term care facility that did not receive the intervention (n=13). All participants received a dental cleaning at baseline. At a follow-up examination at 6 to 8 weeks post-baseline, significant differences were observed in the plaque scores between the participants at each location, with the median plaque scores in those undergoing the intervention being less than half of those in the patients that did not (20.8% vs. 52.8%, p<0.001). After adjusting for age in a linear regression model, this difference remained significant. The use of a daily checklist for oral care supplemented by random inspections by a charge nurse was associated with lower plaque scores (p<0.001). These results warrant further research, including prospective studies aimed at establishing how use of both clinical supervision and a checklist for oral health may influence plaque scores in geriatric patients in long-term care facilities over time.

The objective of this study was to determine the size of the residual ridge in edentulous elderly Japanese persons for preparation of edentulous stock trays and clarify any correlations among the items measured. The participants comprised 74 patients requesting construction of a complete denture for the maxilla, mandible, or both. The length, width, and anterior and posterior height of the maxillary and mandibular residual ridge was measured on a prepared working model using a caliper. For each of the maxillary and mandibular edentulous residual ridges, correlations among measurement items were analyzed employing Pearson's correlation coefficient. In participants who were edentulous in both the maxilla and mandible, correlations between the maxillary and mandibular measurement items were analyzed employing Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the mean maxillary length of the residual ridge was 55.21±4.07 mm, while mean mandibular length was 56.03±4.04 mm. The mean posterior width of the maxillary jaw was 48.79±4.14 mm, while that of the mandibular jaw was 57.33±3.24 mm. A strong correlation was found between the length and width of the residual ridge in both the maxilla and mandible, but no strong correlation was detected between the height in the anterior tooth region and any other item measured. These findings suggest that the size of any given item can be estimated by measuring either the length or width of the residual ridge when selecting a stock tray. We also propose that it is necessary to prepare stock trays with several different heights in the anterior tooth region, regardless of the length and width of the tray, or to adjust the length of the tray.

Here, we describe a case of autotransplantation of a mandibular horizontally impacted third molar using a 3-dimensional (3D) model based on limited cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for diagnosis, 3D morphological evaluation, preoperative treatment planning, and surgical simulation. A 27-year-old woman visited this hospital for conservative treatment of the mandibular left second molar. Intraoral radiography and CBCT images revealed a C-shaped root canal in the mesial root, and compressive resorption of the distal root due to impingement of the crown of the horizontally impacted lower left third molar. Extraction was therefore planned. Multiple tooth-jaw bone 3D models for preoperative diagnosis were fabricated using a low-cost desktop 3D printer and surgical simulation of autotransplantation performed. The autotransplantation was then performed accordingly. Cone-beam computed tomography images and 3D models were extremely useful in obtaining a stereoscopic understanding of the morphology of the transplanted tooth and its surrounding anatomical structures. At the one-year postoperative recall, the patient was able chew with the transplanted tooth without pain, and no significant abnormalities were detected on intraoral radiographs, indicating a successful postoperative clinical course. Our experience of using 3D models fabricated based on CBCT images using a desktop 3D printer for preoperative diagnosis and surgical simulation suggests that this technique is useful in tooth autotransplantation.

Here, we report a case of chronic periodontitis requiring periodontal regenerative therapy. The patient was a 73-year-old man who visited Tokyo Dental College Suidobashi Hospital with the chief complaint of gingival swelling and mobile tooth in the mandibular incisor region. An initial examination revealed that 33% of sites had a probing depth (PD) of≥4 mm and 27% bleeding on probing. Radiographic examination revealed bone resorption extending as far as the root apex in #32 and 47, vertical bone resorption in #37, and horizontal resorption in other regions. Based on a clinical diagnosis of moderate chronic periodontitis, initial periodontal therapy was carried out followed by periodontal surgery. The patient's oral health-related quality of life was also assessed at the time of each periodontal assessment. Surgical periodontal therapy was subsequently performed at selected sites. Periodontal regenerative therapy using enamel matrix derivative was performed on #37. Other sites with a PD of ≥4 mm were treated with open flap debridement, and scaling and root planing. Following reevaluation, the patient was placed on supportive periodontal therapy. The patient's periodontal condition has remained stable over a 3-year 6-month period. The patient's oral health-related quality of life showed a marked improvement after periodontal therapy.

Tooth injury is frequently encountered in pediatric clinical practice. A clinician may be requested to not only respond at the time of injury, but also properly diagnose how such injury will affect the teeth and dentition. Here, we present a case of a child who lost 4 bilateral maxillary incisors due to a traffic accident, and in whom marked mesial inclination of the bilateral maxillary canines and bilateral maxillary first premolars would subsequently occur. Dental management was provided over an extended period. The boy, aged 9 years 11 months, visited our department with the chief complaint of premature loss of 4 bilateral maxillary incisors and eating disturbance associated with the loss of these teeth. Initially, a denture was fitted. The bilateral maxillary canines subsequently demonstrated marked mesial inclination, however, and erupted from an area equivalent to that of the bilateral central incisors. The bilateral maxillary first premolars also showed mesial inclination and rotation. Taking esthetics into consideration, a Nance holding arch with resin buttons that extended to the maxillary incisors and attached to artificial teeth was used. This appliance was also equipped with a retracting hook, and the bilateral maxillary canines were moved downward and distally. Presently, the removable partial denture is worn for the purposes of retention, esthetics, and mastication. Long-term oral management will be necessary. Therefore, final prosthetic treatment for the missing maxillary incisors is planned for when the patient reaches adulthood.