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Small artery occlusive disease (microangiopathy) of the palm and digital arteries may produce ischemia with painful ulcerations on the digits. These ulcerations may contribute to secondary infection and severe intolerance to thermal changes. The use of gauze wrappings to minimize ulceration has been tried; however, it is unhygienic and unsightly. A custom-made digit prosthesis is constructed with medical grade silicone over an artificial finger nail to provide positive seating of the prosthesis. The digit prosthesis is hygienic, esthetically acceptable to the patient and greatly protects ulcerated finger tips.

Statement of Problem: There are discrepancies among researchers concerning the reliability and use of temporomandibular joint sounds., Purpose: This study examined the reliability of mandibular movements and sounds and determined the correlation between movements and sounds., Material and Methods: The mandibular movements of 35 subjects diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders were recorded with 2 CCD cameras, and sounds were recorded bilaterally with Panasonic electret condenser microphones in the ear canal. Subjects performed 3 movements, each repeated 5 times., Results: Reliability of maximum movements across the 5 trials was good to excellent, with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) between 0.76 and 0.91 for all movements except protrusion. Temporomandibular sound event counts were reliable for most movements, including vertical opening, protrusion, and right and left laterotrusion (ICCs between 0.41 and 0.81). Most subjects produced sound events either in 100% or in none of the trials. Reliability for sound events was better during protrusion (ICCs between 0.56 and 0.81) than vertical opening (ICCs 0.41 to 0.64). Subjects with sound events during vertical opening (followed by closing) were significantly more likely to have sound events during protrusion (followed immediately by vertical opening and closing) (P <.01)., Conclusion: Temporomandibular sound events are generally reliable and warrant study regarding their use in classifying and diagnosing patients with temporomandibular disorders. Condylar translation, which occurs during both vertical opening and protrusion, appears to have a strong influence on the production of temporomandibular sound events.

Statement of Problem: Posterior tooth form selection for implant overdentures is made according to personal preference and experience using the concepts of conventional complete denture prosthodontics., Purpose: This study (1) compared the masticatory efficiency of three occlusal forms, 0 degrees, 30 degrees, and lingual contact (lingualized occlusion), in subjects with mandibular implant overdentures, and (2) determined their effects on the implant supporting tissues., Material and Methods: Eight patients who had four root form implants in the mandibular symphysis area connected with a Hader bar were selected. Maxillary and mandibular dentures were constructed for each patient with interchangeable posterior segments and the three occlusal forms were tested. The masticatory efficiency for each posterior tooth form was assessed with objective food tests and a subjective patient preference questionnaire. Periodic evaluation of implant-supporting tissues also was performed., Results: Reliability analysis showed that all R1 coefficients were > or =0.80 (<0.001), indicating high subject consistency between multiple chewing efficiency trials. MANOVA analysis indicated a significant difference in chewing efficiency among the three occlusal forms (p < 0.001). The 0 degree occlusal form was associated with a significantly higher number of chewing strokes compared with 30 degrees or lingualized occlusal forms. The different occlusal forms were not found to have a clinically detrimental effect on the peri-implant soft or hard tissues., Conclusion: Chewing efficiency tests and patient preference ratings showed that 30 degree teeth and lingual contact provided better chewing efficiency than 0 degree teeth. None of the tested occlusal forms showed any clinical or radiographic detrimental effect on the implant-supporting tissues.

Studies that compare different types of complete denture teeth have repeatedly emphasized the importance of standardizing all denture factors, except the type of teeth. Within-subject comparisons have also been recommended to avoid personal differences between patients. For optimum results, one denture should be constructed for each patient with interchangeable teeth. This article describes a simple and accurate procedure for constructing dentures with interchangeable posterior teeth.

Large nasal septal defect is defined as a defect that exceeds in size a stretched nostril. Large nasal septal defects cannot be closed by hard acrylic resin nasal septal obturators because of access and path-of-insertion problems. However, obturation can be achieved by construction of a nasal stent that fits into one of the nasal cavities. This article describes a procedure used to manage a large nasal septal defect with an intranasal heat-processed acrylic resin stent. The medial wall of the stent indirectly allows for the partition of the two nasal cavities. The stent is rendered patent to allow for comfortable breathing. The impression making and construction of these stents is not difficult. These nasal stents indirectly separate the two nasal cavities and effective obturation of large nasal septal defects is achieved.

An elongated styloid process is an anatomic anomaly present in 2% to 30% of adults; it is occasionally associated with pain. Its prevalence among patients with classic temporomandibular disorder pain symptoms is unknown. The effect of conservative treatment on patients who have symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and an elongated styloid process is also unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of the elongated styloid process in a sample of patients with temporomandibular disorders and to compare patients with and without the elongated styloid process on initial presenting signs and symptoms and treatment outcome. A total of 100 panoramic radiographs of patients with symptomatic temporomandibular disorders were examined to ascertain the presence or absence of an elongated styloid process. All patients participated in a conservative treatment program of biofeedback and stress management and a flat-plane intraoral appliance. Initial symptoms and treatment outcome of patients with and without an elongated styloid process were compared by use of multivariate analysis of variance on several oral-paraoral and psychosocial-behavioral methods. The prevalence of an elongated styloid process in this clinic sample of temporomandibular disorders was 27%. The patients with or without an elongated styloid process were not significantly different in pretreatment symptoms, and both groups exhibited substantial treatment gains. However, patients with an elongated styloid process showed significantly less improvement on unassisted mandibular opening without pain than did patients who did not have an elongated styloid process. This suggests that an elongated styloid process may place structural limitations on pain-free maximum mandibular opening. The results support conservative management of patients with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders when an elongated styloid process is present.

To assess the differential efficacy of two commonly used treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMD), intraoral appliances (IAs) and biofeedback (BF), separately and in combination, two studies were conducted. The first study directly compared IA treatment, a combination of biofeedback and stress management (BF/SM), and a waiting list control group in a sample of 80 TMD patients. Both treatments were determined to be equally credible to patients, ruling out this potential threat to the validity of the results obtained. The results demonstrated that the IA treatment was more effective than the BF/SM treatment in reducing pain after treatment, but at a 6-month follow-up the IA group significantly relapsed, especially in depression, whereas the BF/SM maintained improvements on both pain and depression and continued to improve. The second study examined the combination of IA and BF/SM in a sample of 30 TMD patients. The results of this study demonstrated that the combined treatment approach was more effective than either of the single treatments alone, particularly in pain reduction, at the 6-month follow-up. These results support the importance of using both dental and psychologic treatments to successfully treat TMD patients if treatment gains are to be maintained.

Nasal septal obturators are used to mechanically close nasal septal defects. The use of an impression of the nasal septal defect in the construction of nasal septal obturators is mandatory. A heat-cured, highly polished acrylic resin button constructed from an accurate impression is less likely to induce crusting and bleeding, or to be dislodged, than a Silastic button.

1. A new, easy, and predictable method of border molding an edentulous obturator impression is presented. 2. The use of an open-face impression tray facilitates proper extension in the site of the defect. 3. The manipulation of the modeling compound through the open-face tray assures proper seal, compression, and extension of the prosthesis above the mucodermal scar band. 4. The retention of the obturator bulb is mainly mechanical and is dependent upon engaging under-cuts superior to both scar band and the palatal shelf. 5. There should be a continuous peripheral seal between the defect and nondefect side of the obturator.

A new technique is presented for adding a bypass to an edentulous obturator. Fluids which seep into the defect and nasal secretions may pass to the oral cavity through a diagonal tubing in the obturator. Features of this obturator bypass include: (1) use of 8-gauge wax and autopolymerizing acrylic resin to assure the patency and smoothness of the bypass, (2) beveling of the oral opening and creating a tortuous course for the tube to allow for preservation of intraoral pressure so that speech is not affected, and (3) creation of a funnel where the tube opens on the tissue side of the obturator bulb permitting easy collection of fluids.

Maintenance of an adequate airway, control of bleeding, and neurologic evaluation should take precedence over treatment of facial injuries. Comminuted mandibular fractures are rare and require the use of complex splints. Severe lacerations and bone displacement accompany comminuted mandibular fractures. Extraoral facial splints constructed from donor facial moulages can be used along with intraoral splints for these patients. Preaccident photographs and radiographs are excellent aids to help realign the fractured segments. The use of an extraoral "donor" splint in conjunction with an intraoral splint to stabilize comminuted mandibular fracture helps to eliminate unnecessary gross removal of mandibular bone.

A new technique for intracavitary application of Iridium 192 seeds in carcinoma of the nasopharynx is described. This technique allows for accurate construction of a nasopharyngeal carrier that permits the radiotherapist to deliver an adequate dose of irradiation to the nasopharynx.

This article presents a simple procedure for the construction of facial prosthesis. The use of a split mold lined by silicone 382 is recommended. Pertinent information concerning impression making, sculpturing, coloring, and processing to insure esthetically and functionally accepted prostheses is presented.