Dynamic shear properties of the temporomandibular joint disc

Shear stress might be an important factor associated with fatigue failure and damage of the temporomandibular joint disc. Little information, however, is available on the dynamic behavior of the disc in shear. Since the disc is an anisotropic and viscoelastic structure, in the present study the dependency of the dynamic shear behavior on the direction and frequency of loading was examined. Ten porcine discs were used for dynamic shear tests. Shear stress was applied in both anteroposterior (A-P test) and mediolateral (M-L test) directions. The dynamic moduli increased as the loading frequency increased. The dynamic elasticity was significantly larger in the A-P test than in the M-L test, although the dynamic viscosity was similar in both tests. The present results suggest that non-linearities, compression/shear coupling, and intrinsic viscoelasticity affect the shear material behavior of the disc, which might have important implications for the transmission of load in the temporomandibular joint.     

The influence of configuration factors on cavity adaptation in compomer restorations

The effect of configuration factor (C-factor) on cavity adaptation was investigated in three compomer and one resin composite restorations. Eighty-four cylindrical dentin cavities (C-factor: approximately 2.5, 3.0 or 4.0) prepared on flat coronal dentin surfaces were filled with the materials in combination with their proprietary adhesive systems. Cavity adaptation was microscopically examined after 15 minutes storage in water at the top surface and at other four sites along the cavity walls. Additionally, indentation testing was performed for each material at 20 minutes and 24 hours after irradiation. Regression analysis revealed no relationship between C-factor and gap dimension in compomer restorations at any of the measuring sites, while a logarithmic relation was found only at the cavity floor of the composite fillings. All materials showed maturation of mechanical properties. The elastic component of the indentation was smaller in compomers than in the composite. It was concluded that C-factor had no influence on the cavity adaptation for compomer restorations. This might be due to reduced stress generation at the bonding interface caused by relatively low mechanical properties immediately after curing, less elasticity, and water absorption in compomers.     

A case of undifferentiated carcinoma arising in the mandible

A case of undifferentiated carcinoma arising in the minor salivary gland is reported. Preoperative chemotherapy, surgery and postoperative immunotherapy were performed and good results were obtained for 15 months after surgery. However, metastasis to the lung occurred 18 months after surgery. The histologic diagnosis, clinical findings and origin of this tumor are discussed.     

Differences in permeability of microperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase into the alveolar bone of developing rats

Microperoxidase (small m.wt tracer) and horseradish peroxidase (large m.wt tracer) were used to investigate the existence of extracellular (between blood vessels and bone cells) and intracellular transport pathways in the alveolar bone cells of five-day-old rats. HRP directly penetrated the cytoplasm and nucleus of the osteocytes and osteoblasts, but MP did not. These findings suggest that HRP at high dosages is more toxic to bone cells than is MP, since the direct penetration of HRP probably results from alteration of plasma membrane permeability. If so, MP seems to be a more suitable tracer than HRP. The findings from MP tracing suggest that a main transport pathway of bone fluid exists between the external part of the unmineralized zone, which is located in the lacunar and canalicular spaces around bone cells, and the innermost edge of the mineralized matrix, which constitutes the lacunar and canalicular walls; in addition, minor pathways as accessory routes might diverge from the main pathway to go around the bone cells.     

Correlation of mandibular bone quality with neurosensory disturbance after sagittal split ramus osteotomy

Our aim was to find out whether the quality of bone around the inferior alveolar nerve is correlated with neurosensory disturbance to the nerve after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) in patients with mandibular prognathism. Computed tomograms (CT) were taken of 35 patients with mandibular prognathism and 35 without. To assess the density of bone around the inferior alveolar nerve, the width of the buccal cortical bone in the mandibular second molar regions was measured on CT. The Hounsfield units (HU) in the same regions were also measured. The number of HU in the mandible around the second molar regions was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in those with neurosensory disturbance (p < 0.01). The quality of bone measured by HU is associated with an increased risk of neurosensory disturbance, but the width of buccal bone is not.     

Mechanical evaluation of space closure loops in orthodontics

This study evaluated the mechanical performance of teardrop-shaped loops and teardrop-shaped loops with helix used in orthodontic space closure. Sixty retraction loops made with 0.019" x 0.025" stainless steel (SS) and beta-titanium (BT) wires were used. They were attached to a testing machine to measure the magnitudes of the sagittal force and the load-deflection ratio necessary for 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm activation. The results demonstrated that the BT alloy presented significantly smaller mean values (p < 0.01) of sagittal force and load-deflection than the SS alloy. The loop with the highest mean value of sagittal force and load-deflection was the teardrop-shaped loop (p < 0.01). Differences were observed in the mean values of sagittal force and load-deflection among activations, and the highest mean value was found in the activation of 3 mm, while the smallest mean value was evident in the activation of 1 mm (p < 0.01). It could be concluded that the metallic alloy used and the presence of a helix in configuration of the loops may have a strong influence on the sagittal force produced and on the load-deflection ratio; the teardrop-shaped loops and teardrop-shaped loops with helix in BT presented the release of lighter forces; the teardrop-shaped loop in SS generated a high load-deflection ratio, providing high magnitudes of horizontal force during its deactivation.