Determination of the tooth mobility change during the orthodontic tooth movement studied by means of Periotest and MIMD (the mechanical impedance measuring device for the periodontal tissue).

Two mechanical devices were selected to attempt to assess any changes in tooth mobility when orthodontic force was applied. A Periotest (PT) for assessing mobility and a mechanical impedance measuring device (MIMD) were the instruments chosen to diagnose the changes in the periodontal condition. The relative mobility of four canines after orthodontic tooth movement manipulation was assessed over a 4-week period. Both devices were able to detect very small changes in tooth mobility and could follow the changes during tooth movement. According to the Periotest unit, the tooth mobility changes were not within the clinically abnormal range, despite the initial retraction load from a sectional arch, applied in a horizontal direction with about 150 gm for each tooth. In all instances, the contiguous maxillary first premolar had been removed 1 to 2 months before force application. The tooth mobility observed in this investigation could be different from that caused by periodontal disease or traumatic injury. Just after orthodontic tooth movement manipulation, the Periotest values (PTV), as measured on the Periotest, of tooth mobility decreased and the resistance as measured by the mechanical impedance measuring device (MIMDM) was increased. Thus, initially, there is a greater resistance to movement with decreased mobility. After the experimental period of 4 weeks, there was an increase in the mobility, as measured by the Periotest and the mechanical resistance decrements were observed. However, the Periotest units showed some different changes occasionally that did not seem to reflect the state of tooth movement. This needs to be investigated further over a longer period of time. On the basis of the results obtained, it does appear that it is feasible to use these devices to determine mobility changes in patients at various stages of orthodontic treatment.

Calretinin-immunoreactivity in trigeminal neurons innervating the nasal mucosa of the rat.

Trigeminal primary neuronal cell bodies were labeled by retrograde transport of Fluoro-gold (FG) from the nasal mucosa of rats. The trigeminal ganglion containing the labeled cell bodies were processed for double stain for calretinin- and tachykinin-immunoreactivities (CR- and TK-irs). Except for a few contralateral cells, all the cells that innervated the nasal mucosa (NM cells) were confined to the ophthalmo-maxillary division of the trigeminal ganglion ipsilateral to the FG application. In the dorsal two-thirds of the ganglion, NM cells formed a cluster in the rostromedial part of ophthalmo-maxillary division (the rostromedial cluster). In the ventral third, the number of cells in the rostromedial cluster markedly decreased. Instead, numerous NM cells were found in the caudolateral part of the ophthalmo-maxillary division (the caudoventrolateral cluster). CR- and TK-irs were detected in 18% and 54% of overall population of NM cells, respectively. Virtually all of CR-immunoreactive (-ir) NM cells coexpressed TK. Although the proportion of TK-ir cells, irrespective of CR-ir, was similar for both clusters, CR-ir cells were more frequent in the caudoventrolateral cluster than in the rostromedial cluster. In the dorsal 1/3 of the ganglion where all the NM cells belonged to the rostromedial cluster, only 8.4% exhibited CR-ir. On the other hand, as much as 30.1% of NM cells expressed CR-ir in the ventral 1/3 where most NM cells were found in the caudoventrolateral cluster. Trigeminal cell bodies innervating the cornea and conjunctivum were located in the rostromedial part of the ophthalmo-maxillary division.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

c-Fos expression by dorsal horn neurons chronically deafferented by peripheral nerve section in response to spared, somatotopically inappropriate nociceptive primary input.

Subcutaneous formalin injection into the hindpaw of rats induces c-Fos expression in neurons in the ipsilateral spinal cord dorsal horn. In laminae I and II of the dorsal horn at the junction of 4th and 5th segments of the lumbar spinal cord, neurons exhibiting c-Fos protein-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) are concentrated in the medial 3/4 that correspond to the terminal field of primary neurons innervating the sciatic nerve. Subacute tibial nerve section 24 h before formalin stimulation caused almost complete elimination of neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI in the medial 1/2 (tibial territory) of the above sciatic territory of the dorsal horn. Following a longer survival period (chronic tibial nerve section of 21 days standing), neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI re-appeared in the tibial territory. In addition, the number of neurons with the formalin-induced Fos-LI increased in the medial part of the peroneal territory (the lateral 1/2 of the sciatic territory). The results indicate that the activation of c-Fos expression in that part of dorsal horn that has been chronically deafferented by the tibial nerve section is taken over by the spared, but somatotopically inappropriate primary nociceptors. Furthermore, dorsal horn neurons outside but near the deafferented tibial nerve's territory exhibit hypersensitivity to c-Fos expression evoked by intact, somatotopically appropriate primary nociceptive input.

Changes in facial skin temperature associated with chewing efforts in man: a thermographic evaluation.

Eleven healthy male adults chewed hard and soft chewing-gums for 5 min. A thermographic record of the face on the chewing side was made at the beginning of, during and after the effort. Facial temperature distributions during open/close cyclic unloaded jaw movements were recorded at a later date. The dimensions of the zones whose temperatures were 1.4 degrees C or more higher than the central temperature during the experiment were determined. There was a linear increase in the dimensions of these zones after the chewing. In contrast, the cyclic jaw movements did not result in significant increases. Chewing the hard gum produced significantly higher temperature rises than did the soft in the masseter area. After the chewing effort, the temperature fell gradually, but did not return to the initial state even after 30 min. The overall decreasing pattern of the temperature distribution for chewing the soft gum was similar to that for the hard gum. The facial temperature associated with chewing efforts rose in accordance with the resistance offered by the chewing-gums.