Effects of occlusal contact and its area on gravity fluctuation.

Objective: To examine changes in gravity fluctuation caused by experimentally altering the area of occlusal contact.

Materials And Methods: Subjects consisted of 15 adult Japanese males with normal stomatognathic function, no missing teeth except for the third molars, and equivalent occlusal contact in the anterior and bilateral posterior regions. Silicon biteplates fabricated for each subject to evaluate gravity fluctuation in relation to changes in occlusal contact area were as follows: RP(-)-OC(+) (entire occlusal surface covered in centric occlusion); RP(+)-OC(+) (entire occlusal surface covered with bite slightly raised); Ant or Pos/RP(+)-OC(+) (anterior or posterior region selectively covered); and RP(+)-OC(-) (only retromolar pads covered, no occlusal coverage).

Changes in the distribution of nerve fibers immunoreactive to calcitonin gene-related peptide according to growth and aging in rat molar periodontal ligament.

Objective: To analyze the age-dependent changes in nerve fibers immunoreactive to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-ir) in the periodontal ligaments of rats.

Materials And Methods: Thirty male Wistar-ST rats were divided into growing groups (5, 9, and 15 weeks of age) and aging groups (6, 12, and 24 months of age) (n = 5 in each group). Eight serial sagittal sections, 5 microm thick, were cut parallel to the distobuccal root of the maxillary right first molar.

Relationship between occlusal force and mandibular condyle morphology. Evaluated by limited cone-beam computed tomography.

Objective: To clarify the relationship between occlusal force and mandibular condyle morphology using clinical data.

Materials And Methods: The subjects were 40 female patients with malocclusion. The mandibular condyle morphology was assessed by using limited cone-beam CT imaging.

Treatment of severe Class II Division 1 deep overbite malocclusion without extractions in an adult.

This case report describes the orthodontic treatment and retention of an adult with severe Class II Division 1 deep overbite malocclusion; treatment was completed without premolar extractions. We used improved superelastic nickel-titanium alloy wire (L&H Titan, Tomy, Tokyo, Japan) with J-hook headgear for the combined intrusion of the anterior segment and the distalization of the maxillary posterior segments. The overbite was corrected from 6.

Effect of surface modification on the photocatalysis of Ti-Ni alloy in orthodontics.

Photocatalytic activity from the reaction of titanium oxide with ultraviolet light has recently gained much attention. In particular, there is scientific interest in inducing photocatalytic reactions on Ti-Ni alloy, a material widely used in orthodontic applications. However, it is believed that inducing a photocatalytic reaction with an amorphous oxide film on the alloy is a difficult challenge.