Reliability of diagnostic imaging for degenerative diseases with osseous changes in the temporomandibular joint with special emphasis on subchondral cyst.

Objectives: The present study aimed to clarify the reliabilities of four characteristic appearances, subchondral cyst, erosion, generalized sclerosis, and osteophyte, for evaluation of degenerative diseases with osseous changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) using panoramic TMJ projection imaging and computed tomography (CT), and to investigate the imaging features of these modalities for subchondral cyst with reference to its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features.

Methods: The reliabilities (κ values) of panoramic TMJ projection and CT images were determined by three radiologists for each characteristic appearance of TMJ osseous changes in 146 condyles. The features of cyst-like areas on CT images with agreement among the three radiologists were investigated for size, location, and continuity with the joint space together with MRI signal intensity and surrounding edema-like lesions.

Nondestructive Microcomputed Tomography Evaluation of Mineral Density in Exfoliated Teeth with Hypophosphatasia.

Most cases of hypophosphatasia (HPP) exhibit early loss of primary teeth. Results of microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis of teeth with HPP have rarely been reported. The purpose of the present study was to describe the mineral density distribution and mapping of exfoliated teeth from an HPP patient using micro-CT.

Utilization of computer-aided detection system in diagnosing unilateral maxillary sinusitis on panoramic radiographs.

Objectives: It is unclear whether computer-aided detection (CAD) systems for panoramic radiography can help inexperienced dentists to diagnose maxillary sinusitis. The aim of this study was to clarify whether a CAD system for panoramic radiography can contribute to improved diagnostic performance for maxillary sinusitis by inexperienced dentists.

Methods: The panoramic radiographs of 49 patients with maxillary sinusitis and 49 patients with healthy sinuses were evaluated in this study.

Potential clinical application of masseter and temporal muscle massage treatment using an oral rehabilitation robot in temporomandibular disorder patients with myofascial pain.

Objectives: To investigate the safety, suitable treatment regimen, and efficacy of masseter and temporal muscle massage treatment using an oral rehabilitation robot.

Methods: Forty-one temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with myofascial pain (8 men, 33 women, median age: 46 years) were enrolled. The safety, suitable massage regimen, and efficacy of this treatment were investigated.

Shear-wave sonoelastography for assessing masseter muscle hardness in comparison with strain sonoelastography: study with phantoms and healthy volunteers.

Unlabelled: Objectives Shear-wave sonoelastography is expected to facilitate low operator dependency, high reproducibility and quantitative evaluation, whereas there are few reports on available normative values of in vivo tissue in head and neck fields. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliabilities on measuring hardness using shear-wave sonoelastography and to clarify normal values of masseter muscle hardness in healthy volunteers. Methods Phantoms with known hardness ranging from 20 to 140 kPa were scanned with shear-wave sonoelastography, and inter- and intraoperator reliabilities were examined compared with strain sonoelastography.

Regional brain activity during jaw clenching with natural teeth and with occlusal splints: a preliminary functional MRI study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate regional brain activity during jaw clenching with natural teeth and with two types of occlusal splints using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods: Sixteen healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI signals were compared under three conditions: during clenching with natural teeth, with a soft splint, and with a hard splint.

Can sonographic features be efficacy predictors of robotic massage treatment for masseter and temporal muscle in patients with temporomandibular disorder with myofascial pain?

Objective: The aim of this study was to detect sonographic predictors for the efficacy of massage treatment of masseter and temporal muscle in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) patients with myofascial pain.

Methods: Thirty-seven TMD patients with myofascial pain (6 men and 31 women, a median age of 45 years) were enrolled. An oral rehabilitation robot massaged the patient's masseter and temporal muscles with a standard massage pressure of 10 N for 16 min.

Experimental pain in the gingiva and its impact on prefrontal cortical hemodynamics: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Evaluating alterations in brain activity in response to pain stimulus can help understand the mechanisms underlying pain perception. We measured oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in order to assess prefrontal cortex activation after inducing a pain stimulus to the gingiva. Twenty-three right-handed, healthy male subjects (mean age: 29.

Intramuscular changes of soft and hard areas after low-level static contraction of the masseter muscle and the correlations with muscle hardness and increase in water content: evaluations with sonographic elastography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: To investigate the intramuscular changes on sonographic elastography (SE) after low-level static contraction of the masseter muscle, and to clarify the relationship with the total hardness and edematous change.

Study Design: Ten healthy volunteers performed sustained bilateral biting at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction for 10 min. The SE and magnetic resonance (MR) scans of the masseter muscles were performed before, immediately after, and 10 min after exercise.