The oral health in different groups of adults with mental handicaps attending Birmingham (UK) adult training centres.

The policies of normalisation and integration into the community of people with mental handicap have significant implications for dental care. Before dental services can be planned, the extent of the problem needs to be identified. A total of 382 people with mental handicap living in the community and attending day centres was examined; 52 of these people were edentulous.

Familial primary failure of eruption of permanent teeth.

A son and his mother presented with features consistent with a diagnosis of primary failure of eruption. The features of this condition are described together with some aspects of treatment. The impact of the condition on vertical facial growth is discussed.

A histological study of stainless steel and titanium screws in bone.

This study compared histologically the tissue response of stainless steel and titanium screws when inserted into the calvaria of eight beagle dogs for periods of 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. There was minimal fibrous reaction around both screw types with excellent long-term bone healing. After 24 weeks there was no discernable difference in the tissue reaction between the two types of screw.

Juxtacortical osteosarcoma of the jaws.

Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant tumour which despite modern surgery and chemotherapy still retains a relatively poor prognosis. This prognosis is, however, much better in the rare variant known as juxtacortical osteosarcoma. Both types of osteosarcoma mainly affect the long bones but the juxtacortical variant may be treated less aggressively and has a much better survival rate.

The contribution of the nasopalatine nerve to sensation of the hard palate.

This study investigates which areas of the hard palate are innervated by the nasopalatine nerve and determines whether division of this nerve results in a detectable alteration in sensation. In the first part of this study the area of the hard palate from which sharp and blunt sensation could be evoked was investigated in 20 subjects after anaesthetising both anterior (formerly greater) palatine nerves. Sensation remained in the region of the incisive papilla and gingival margin of the central incisors in all patients and, in some, extended as far back as the first premolars.

Myasthenia gravis as a cause of facial pain.

A case of myasthenia gravis is described. The diagnosis was confirmed electromyographically and immunologically; the presenting features were those of myofascial pain. Attention is drawn to the association of myofascial pain with other systemic diseases and stresses the need to look critically at the patient for evidence of a systemic origin for myofascial pain.