Analysis of current nursing homes in Korea and to assess the role and prospect of dentists in comparison to Japanese long term care insurance system / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The introduction of "The Long-term Care Insurance System"(a public nursing care insurance scheme) is scheduled from July in 2008. Lately, the importance of oral health care had increased. Introduction and establishment of the methodology (nursing care procedure) based on professional dental knowledge is inevitable. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to rouse recognition of the importance of dental care in the long term elderly care in nursing homes, with implementation of the new insurance law. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Visited two institutions for the elderly, Yudang Village and Sungjiwon located in Suwon city to investigate the present conditions in terms of (1) the detailsof the institution, (2) the activities concerning with dental care in the institution, and (3) the consciousness and recognition regarding dental care of the staffs. RESULTS: In two institutions, under the present conditions, oral cleaning (including the cleaning of denture) for residents was operated with no professional advices and limited professional dental care. It was found that there was very little awareness of aspiration pneumonia. The members of staff however, did recognizethe necessity of professional maintenance and management of oral care in daily nursing care, and that many residents hold dental problems. They were very eager in introducing the methodology (nursing care procedure) in dental care in nursing homes.

Rehabilitation of a patient with a post radiotherapy trismus with an obturator and a maxillary denture using magnet attachments / 대한치과보철학회지

Construction of an obturator for rehabilitation of a patient who underwent a maxillectomy is vital. Routinely a constructed obturator includes denture portion. A patient who may present anatomical limitations due to surgical or radiotherapy complications often challenges the clinician. Purpose: This clinical report describes a patient with severe trismus after surgical resection and radiotherapy treatment of a tumor in the upper left maxilla. Conclusion: This report describes the concepts of using a rotational path insertion for an obturator and a separately constructed maxillary denture. The stability and retention of the obturator were obtained from anatomical features. Where as these were achieved through magnetic attachments and the remaining edentulous ridge to ensure esthetic and function of the prosthesis.

Marginal tissue response to different Implant neck design / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Loss of the marginal bone to the first thread have been accepted but continuous effort have been made to reduce this bone loss by varying implant design and surface texture. PURPOSE: This animal study has examined the histomorphometric variations between implants with micro-thread, micro-grooved and turned surfaced neck designs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four mongrel dogs have been used the premolars removed and left to heal for three months. One of each implant systems with turned neck, micro-thread and micro-grooved were placed according to the manufacturers' protocol and left submerged for 8 and 12 weeks. These were then harvested for histological examination. RESULTS: The histologically all samples were successfully ossointegrated and active bone remodelling adjacent to implants. With the micro-grooved implants 0.40 mm and 0.26 mm of the marginal bone level changes were observed at 8 and 12 weeks respectively. The micro-threaded implants had changes of 0.79 mm and 0.56 mm at 8 and 12 weeks respectably. The turned neck designed implants had marginal bone level changes of 1.61 mm and 1.63 mm in 8 and 12 weeks specimens. A complex soft tissue arrangement could be observed against micro-threaded and micro-grooved implant surfaces. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it could be concluded that implants with micro-grooved had the least and the turned neck designed implants had the most changes in the marginal bone level. The textured implant surfaces affect soft tissue responses.

Mini ongoing implant to replace anterior single missing tooth with limited space: A clinical report / 대한치과보철학회지

For a missing teeth, orthodontic treatment may be a better choice of treatment in comparison to a conventional prosthetic replacement such as FPD, resin bonded prosthesis in view of aesthetics, periodontal health and function. Occasionally after an orthodontic treatment, an insufficient space may occur. The mini-implant could be an alternative in situations of narrow ridge dimension, where conventional root form implant could be compromised. The aim of this clinical report is to describe how a space that could not be restored with a traditional root form endosteal implant was managed and to present a technique to achieve optimal anterior esthetics in single implant restoration.

The effort of various mixing methods on dynamic viscoelasticity of a temporary soft lining material; coe-comfort / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Temporary soft relining materials are used in a diverse clinical situations such as tissue conditioner, relining material, functional impression by varying its viscoelasticity. However, reproduction of consistent viscoelasticity has been not possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering setting mechanism of this material, this study has measured the effect of varying amount of void in dynamic viscoelasticity of soft relining material, with three different mixing methods. In each methods 10 specimens were made and subjected to dynamic viscoelastic test which were measured at specific times over period of 72 hours. RESULTS: The analysis of the result shown that there was no statistically significant differences between different mixing methods. CONCLUSION: Different mixing methods had no effect over control of viscoelasticity of soft lining material. Further research is recommended for under similar oral environmental condition.

LONGITUDINAL CLINICAL STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF OSSEOINTEGRATED DENTAL IMPLANTS IN PARTIALLY EDENTULOUS KOREAN PATIENTS / 대한치과보철학회지

This study was to evaluate the clinical evidence for the success and the predictability of the osseointegrated dental implants in the partially edentulous Korean patients. 201 patients have received total of 502 Branemark implants, which were restored with either single or multiunit fixed superstructures at the Implants Clinic, Yonsei University Dental Hospital. The clinical and radiographic evaluations carried out on the patients for maximum 8 years were assessed annually for peri-implant inflammation, implant mobility (PTV), Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Keratinized Mucosa width and any changes in the surrounding bone level. The radiographs were taken at completion of the restoration, and annually thereafter. On the last recall appointments the patients filled a questionnaire consist of 29 questions in four categories. The cumulative non-failure rate of success was 93.9%. The first year mean bone loss was 0.3mm and less than 0.2mm annually thereafter. The periodontal parameters, keratinized tissue width and periotest values stabilized after initial changes in the first years. The questionnaire has shown general satisfactory responses in all four aspect of dental implants treatment, including chewing efficacy, comfort, aesthetics and speech. The results support the predictability and success of the long-term rehabilitation of implant supported prostheses in partially edentulous Korean Patients.