General hospital residency for dental undergraduates

A one-week full-time general hospital residency for a final year of 81 dental undergraduates has been greeted by the majority of students as being an invaluable experience. Such a residency programme could be structured to provide dental students with an even broader medical perspective during their training and thus allow for a greater clinical maturity on graduation. The present programme is outlined and discussed.     

Trial of a CAD/CAM system for fabricating complete dentures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fabrication of a complete denture using a CAD/CAM system. Cone beam CT was used to measure the complete denture and the artificial teeth. After a 3D complete denture image was structured using 3D CAD software, we factored out the artificial teeth and obtained a 3D denture base image. A machining center cut an acrylic resin block, and fabricated an acrylic complete denture base. The artificial teeth were bonded to the cut denture base using resin cement. A 3D digitizer digitized the fabricated acrylic denture. We measured the deviations between the master 3D complete denture image and the 3D data of the fabricated acrylic denture. The average deviations from the master 3D image were 0.50 mm for the occlusal surface. This present study indicates that it is possible to fabricate a complete denture using a CAD/CAM system.     

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor administration on vascular changes in wound healing of rat palates.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular changes induced by mucoperiosteal denudation of rat palate and to elucidate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) administration on the palatal vascular network in wound healing. METHODS: A total of 117 male Wistar rats were used for the study on their 20th postnatal day. The animals were divided into three groups: a scar formation group, a basic fibroblast growth factor group, and a control group. The scar formation and basic fibroblast growth factor groups had lateral mucoperiosteum excised from the palate. In the basic fibroblast growth factor group, a solution of basic fibroblast growth factor was injected into the operated area 1 week after excision. At 6, 8, and 10 weeks postoperatively, palatal vascular changes were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and corrosion cast techniques. RESULTS: Throughout the experimental period, there were significantly fewer vessels in the scar formation group than in the control and basic fibroblast growth factor groups. In the basic fibroblast growth factor group, the elongation of new vessels and capillary proliferation proceeded, and after 10 weeks a highly organized vascular network was established. The scar formation group showed few Volkmann's canals that were shrunken or closed, whereas the basic fibroblast growth factor group evidenced Volkmann's canals with arterioles or venules, as seen in the control. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that injection of basic fibroblast growth factor into palatal wounds improves the vascular supply to the operated mucosa and underlying bone during and after palatal wound healing, which may contribute to tissue remodeling of the palate during growth.     

Dentofacial features of a family with Crouzon syndrome. Case reports

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by craniosynostosis with associated dentofacial anomalies. This paper describes the variable clinical features in affected individuals over two generations of a family with particular reference to the dentofacial deformities and discussion of management strategies.     

Bilateral fracture of the mandible in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Case report

The development of osteolytic bone lesions in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is extremely rare and has not been reported to involve the mandible. A case of bilateral pathologic fracture of the mandible extensively involved with multiple bony deposits of CLL is reported.     

Pycnodysostosis. Report of a case and review of the Japanese literature, with emphasis on oral and maxillofacial findings

We report a case of pycnodysostosis and review 54 cases of this syndrome in the Japanese literature, with special emphasis on oral and maxillofacial findings. Common findings were as follows: hypoplasia of maxilla and mandible, hypopneumatization of the maxillary sinuses, loss of mandibular angle, a grooved palate, and malpositioned teeth.