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Background/purpose: Dentures are important for the reconstruction of occlusal support and masticatory performance for older adults with poor dentition. We aimed to elucidate the oral health factors associated with malnutrition in older adults requiring long-term care, including denture use. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 322 older adults (63 men, 259 women; mean age, 86.6 ± 6.9 years) who required long-term care in rural Japan. The participant's nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA®-SF). Oral health was assessed using participant's dentition and oral function. Barthel Index (BI) and medical history were measured for assessing general health status. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the oral health factors associated with malnutrition. Results: The proportion of participants with malnutrition was 17.2%. The BI score (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93–0.98, p

PURPOSE This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of silicone-based resilient denture liners on perceived chewing ability. METHODS The RCT included completely edentulous patients on both the maxilla and mandible, who were willing to fabricate a new set of complete dentures. A random permuted block method (block size: 4) was used to assign groups to receive maxilla conventional complete denture and mandibular with either a conventional complete denture (CD) or complete demure relined with silicone-based resilient denture liner (RD). The patient-reported chewing ability of six foods, soybean curd, fish sausage, soybean sprout, cubic rice cracker, hard rice cracker, and dry squid, on a 100-mm visual analog scale was measured and reported at the final adjustment and three months after the final adjustment. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences between the CD and RD (p < 0.05). RESULTS Edentulous patients wearing mandibular complete denture with RD had a higher patient-reported chewing ability than those wearing a CD, but the fish sausage did not in the RD three months after the final adjustment. It also took three months for the patient-reported masticatory ability to improve for cubic rice crackers, hard rice crackers, and dry squid and to show a difference between the RD and CD groups. CONCLUSION Although limited to some food types, mandibular complete dentures relined with silicone-based liners improved patient-reported chewing ability.

Purpose Implant component fractures are one of the most serious complications in implant treatment. With a better understanding of the risk factors for fracture in the preoperative, surgery, superstructure, and post-loading phases of implant treatment, low-risk treatment could reduce implant component fractures, leading to a better prognosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for abutment and implant fractures that occur after loading, and to perform a retrospective, approximately 10-year follow-up study to explore the risk factors in each treatment phase. Methods Subjects were fitted with an implant prosthesis between January 2008 and December 2009. In total, 1,126 Ankylos implants in 430 patients were included for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to extract factors related to non-fracture and fracture of the abutment or implant as a dependent variable. Results Gender (OR = 3.466, 95% CI 1.296-9.268, P = 0.013), gonial angle (OR = 3.420, 95% CI 1.308-8.945, P = 0.012), and splinting status of the superstructure (OR = 4.456, 95% CI 1.861-10.669, P = 0.001) were identified as significant risk factors. Conclusion The risk of fracture is increased in males, especially those with a mandibular angle of less than 120° on panoramic radiographs, and those with a non-splinted superstructure.

Purpose To investigate the difference in improvement of oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) depending on the oral and denture conditions of a complete denture wearer when using a cream or powder type denture adhesive in a 10-center parallel randomized clinical trial.Methods Two hundred edentulous subjects who wore complete dentures were allocated to each of the three groups according to denture adhesive type: cream, powder, and control (saline solution). The materials were applied to the mucosal surface of the dentures for 4 days, and baseline data and data after the intervention were collected. OHR-QoL was assessed using the Japanese version of the modified Oral Health Impact Profile for Edentulous Patients (OHIP-EDENT-J) scale for outcome. Multivariate analysis was used to investigate improvements in OHR-QoL according to participant characteristics among complete denture wearers using these materials.Results OHIP-EDENT-J scores were significantly decreased in all groups after the intervention (p < 0.05); however, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the vertical height of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar ridge and OHIP-EDENT-J scores in the cream-type denture adhesive group. In contrast, there were no significant association between participant characteristics and OHIP-EDENT-J scores in the powder-type adhesive and control groups.Conclusions The use of denture adhesives could improve OHR-QoL for complete denture wearers. The cream-type denture adhesives may be expected to improve OHR-QoL in patients with poor residual ridge conditions compared with patients with good residual ridge conditions.

The relation between occlusal force and general motor ability induced by lower-limb musculature is unclear. To identify indicators of oral and lower-limb muscle weakness, this study examined the relation between masticatory muscle strength and lower limb muscle force in 742 community-dwelling elderly adults (315 men and 427 women, mean age 733 +/- 5.5 years) living in Itabashi ward, Tokyo. Multiple regression analysis of the relation between occlusal force and knee extension torque, in relation to age and sex, showed a significant correlation between the two variables (r = 0.348, P < 0.001), which indicates that occlusal force is a determinant of knee extension torque. Occlusal force remained significantly correlated with knee extension torque after adjustment for factors known to be related to the latter. In conclusion, chewing function and lower-limb motor function were significantly correlated and thus might be indicators of muscle weakness in elderly adults.

Clear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required to diagnose tongue cancer. However, the absence of occlusal support may cause tongue movements which are known to introduce artifacts on the MR image. This pilot study compared the manifest of artifacts from the tongue at rest and during motion using luminance standard deviation (LSD) to quantify the artifacts, in dentulous subjects. Participants were ten dentulous participants (5 males, 5 females; age 31.50 ± 8.38 years) with occlusal support. MRI was conducted with the tongue at rest and during lateral movement. The LSD was measured in the regions of interest (ROI) in the axial and sagittal planes. Tongue movement evoked unclear MR images, compared with the images taken at rest. Statistical analysis revealed that the LSD significantly differed between the tongue at rest and in motion in the axial (P = 0.004) and sagittal planes (ROI-A: P = 0.002, ROI-P: P = 0.006). These findings suggest that tongue movement introduces motion artifact and the LSD responds quantitatively to the magnitude of artifacts. Future studies will evaluate whether a prosthetic device used to provide occlusive support can decrease these artifacts when analyzed using LSD.

The irritation and pain associated with oral blood sampling necessary to monitor glycemic control can alter oral sensation, but no studies have measured the reliability of oral sensation testing when performed concurrently with blood sampling. The primary and secondary aims of this study were to verify the measurement reliability of current perception threshold (CPT) and pain threshold (PT) tests performed before and after blood sampling and to investigate the differences in CPTs/PTs obtained from the oral cavity, hand, and foot, respectively. CPT/PT measurements were obtained from the oral mucosa and the tips of fingers and toes of 18 volunteers (10 males and 8 females, average age = 26.3 years) using electrical stimulation at frequencies of 5, 250, and 2,000 Hz. Participants also provided blood samples by pricking their own index fingers with a small needle. All subjects completed the following 3 conditions at once‐weekly intervals as follows: (a) sensory measurements followed by blood sampling (SB block); (b) blood sampling followed by sensory measurements (BS block); (c) sensory measurements without blood sampling (CO control block). Cronbach's α coefficients were over 0.78 for the SB, BS, and CO blocks, and are considered to be acceptable for assuring measurement reliability. The oral cavity had significantly lower CPT/PTs than both hands and feet, such that the threshold increased in the order oral cavity

The present animal study investigated whether oral intake of synthetic bone mineral (SBM) improves peri-implant bone formation and bone micro architecture (BMA). SBM was used as an intervention experimental diet and AIN-93M was used as a control. The SBM was prepared by mixing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO4·2H2O) and magnesium and zinc chlorides (MgCl2 and ZnCl2, respectively), and hydrolyzed in double-distilled water containing dissolved potassium carbonate and sodium fluoride. All rats were randomly allocated into one of two groups: a control group was fed without SBM (n = 18) or an experimental group was fed with SBM (n = 18), at seven weeks old. At 9 weeks old, all rats underwent implant surgery on their femurs under general anesthesia. The implant was inserted into the insertion socket prepared at rats' femur to a depth of 2.5 mm by using a drill at 500 rpm. Nine rats in each group were randomly selected and euthanized at 2 weeks after implantation. The remaining nine rats in each group continued their diets, and were euthanized in the same manner at 4 weeks after implantation. The femur, including the implant, was removed from the body and implant was pulled out by an Instron universal testing machine. After the implant removal, BMA was evaluated by bone surface ratio (BS/BV), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (TbTh), trabecular number (TbN), trabecular star volume (Vtr), and micro-CT images. BS/BV, BV/TV, TbTh and Vtr were significantly greater in the rats were fed with SBM than those were fed without SBM at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation (P < 0.05). The present results revealed that SBM improves the peri-implant formation and BMA, prominent with trabecular bone structure. The effect of SBM to improve secondary stability of the implant, and shortening the treatment period should be investigated in the future study.

This position paper proposes a definition and naming standard for removable partial dentures (RPDs) using thermoplastic resin, and presents a guideline for clinical application. A panel of 14 experts having broad experience with clinical application of RPDs using thermoplastic resin was selected from members of the Japan Prosthodontic Society. At a meeting of the panel, “non-metal clasp denture” was referred as the generic name of RPDs with retentive elements (resin clasps) made of thermoplastic resin. The panel classified non-metal clasp dentures into two types: one with a flexible structure that lacks a metal framework and the other having a rigid structure that includes a metal framework. According to current prosthetic principles, flexible non-metal clasp dentures are not recommended as definitive dentures, except for limited cases such as patients with a metal allergy. Rigid non-metal clasp dentures are recommended in cases where patients will not accept metal clasps for esthetic reasons. Non-metal clasp dentures should follow the same design principles as conventional RPDs using metal clasps.

We have developed a novel supplement diet for osteoporosis prevention that contains fructo- oligosaccharide, isoflavone, and calcium citrate, in addition to calcium phosphate (high mineral diet: HMD). The present study aimed to clarify whether rats with osteoporosis fed an HMD showed an improved structure model index (SMI) in the femoral epiphyseal region compared with rats fed a normal mineral diet (NMD). The experiment used 20-week-old ovariectomized rats divided into an NMD group (n=6) and an HMD group (n=6).� After 24 weeks on the diet, this study examined the changes in SMI and the 3-dimensional pseudocolor map (3D-map) using micro-computed tomography. Compared to the NMD group, the HMD group had significantly greater Trabecular Thickness (Tb. Th) and Trabecular Number, and shorter Trabecular Separation and Trabecular Spacing, indicating highly dense trabeculae. The trabeculae of the NMD group had low Tb. Th and bone volume / tissue volume (BV/TV), indicating a thin, rod-like shape, but the trabeculae of the HMD group had significantly greater Tb. Th and BV/TV, demonstrating a thick, plate-like structure. In the sagittal section image of the 3D-map, the trabecular bone of the NMD group showed low bone mineral density (BMD), represented by light blue and purple colors, on the growth plate side of the inner portion of the cortical bone, indicating near complete resorption of the trabecular bone. The trabecular bone of the HMD group showed moderate to low BMD, represented by light blue and green colors, on the growth plate side, indicating a greater trabecular bone density compared to the NMD group. The present results showed that the intake of HMD, compared to NMD, maintains the trabecular structure by preventing trabecular bone resorption, indicating the usefulness of HMD intake.

Purpose A lingualized occlusion (LO) for complete dentures reduces lateral inferences and occlusal force contacts and direction; thus, LO is theorized to be more suitable for patients with compromised ridges than fully bilateral balanced articulation (FBBA). However, no studies have yet provided evidence to support LO in edentate patients with compromised alveolar ridges. The purpose of this study was to compare LO and FBBA in edentulous individuals with compromised ridges. Methods Sixty edentulous individuals were randomly allocated into groups and received dentures with either LO or FBBA. Following delivery, several denture-related satisfaction variables were measured using 100 mm visual analogue scales; oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was also assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Sub-group analyses of the effect of moderate and severe mandibular bone loss were also carried out. Results No significant differences were detected between LO and FBBA with the primary outcome. At 6 months, participants with severely atrophied mandibles and FBBA rated their satisfaction with retention of mandibular dentures significantly lower than those with LO (median LO: 86, FBBA: 58.5, p = 0.03). They also had significantly lower OHRQoL for the domain of Pain (median LO: 4, FBBA: 5, p = 0.02). General satisfaction and total OHIP scores significantly improved between baseline and 6 months only for the LO subjects with severely atrophied mandibles (satisfaction: p = 0.003, OHIP total score: p = 0.0007). Conclusions The results indicate that the LO occlusal scheme with hard resin artificial teeth is more efficient for patients with severely resorbed mandibular ridges.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to clarify osteological changes in the femoral epiphyseal region in ovariectomized rats with differing mineral consumptions. The bone tissues were assessed using 3-dimensional maps, bone mineral contents, and bone volume measurements. Data from microcomputed tomography with TRI / 3D-Bon BMD application software were also used. Methods: A total of 48 rats were randomly distributed into three groups (n = 16 per group). The control rats, in Group 1, were subjected to a sham operation when 20 weeks old and given a normal diet. The remaining 32 rats were subjected to bilateral ovarectomy at the same age and divided into Group 2, ovariectomized rats on normal diet, and Group 3, ovariectomized rats on low-mineral diet. Each group began eating its prescribed diet at 20 weeks. Observations were made at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks on the respective diets. Results: In the color scale 3-dimensional map of cancellous bone, high bone-mineral density was observed in sites found to be in contact with cortical bone, and middle and low bone-mineral density distributions were observed in the medullary cavity. Bone-mineral content of the cortical and cancellous bone was significantly decreased at 24 weeks in groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1. Bone volume was signifi cantly lower at 24 weeks in groups 2 and 3

The aim of this study was to monitor changes in bone density and bone quality (microarchitecture) in the femoral epiphyseal region in rats with bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency and accelerated by mineral deficiency. Forty-eight Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 16 per group): Group 1, sham-operated rats on a normal diet; Group 2, ovariectomised rats on a normal diet; and Group 3, ovariectomised rats on a mineral-deficient diet. Observations were conducted 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks after the operation (sham or ovariectomy), while the rats were on their respective diets. Microscopic computed tomography of the femoral epiphyseal region was used to generate 3-dimensional bone density distribution maps, and to compute bone density values. Densities of cortical and cancellous bone in Groups 2 and 3 were significantly less than densities in Group 1, and densities in Group 3 were significantly less than densities in Group 2 at nearly every post-operative time interval.This study demonstrated that: a) ovariectomy in rats induces bone loss; b) a mineral-deficient diet accelerates bone loss that has been induced by oestrogen deficiency; and c) 3-dimensional bone density distribution maps may be useful in diagnosing osteoporosis and other diseases causing bone loss. Microscopic computed tomography is a powerful analytical tool for measuring spatial variations in bone density, and temporal changes in the patterns of 3-dimensional bone density distribution maps.

目的: 本研究は, 患者個々の義歯装着の意志を把握することを目指し, 質的検討および小規模調査にて作成された改良型質問票を用いて多施設調査を行い, その信頼性および構成概念妥当性ならびに収束妥当性から, 最終質問票の質問項目を検討することが目的である.方法: 日本大学松戸歯学部付属歯科病院および近隣歯科診療所に来院した318名を対象に, 改良型質問票を用いて多施設調査を行った. 因子分析にて質問項目の構成を, クロンバックのα係数より, 構成概念妥当性および内的信頼性を検討した. 収束妥当性は義歯装着の意志を測る外的基準項目と最終質問票との関連について, それぞれの回答値よりPearson相関係数を算出し検討した.結果: 検討の結果, 最終的に4因子 (第I因子「気持ち」, 第II因子「不快事項」, 第III因子「全身状態」, 第V因子「対人関係」) 37質問項目が構成され, クロンバックのα係数は0.59-0.91となった. 義歯装着の意志と最終質問票との間には, 上顎義歯装着の意志と上下顎局部床義歯装着者 (r=0.30), 下顎義歯装着の意志と片顎義歯 (r=0.28), 上下顎局部床義歯 (r=0.33), 上下顎総義歯装着者 (r=0.30) の回答値との間に有意な関連を示した.結論: 4因子37質問項目よりなる最終質問票は, 妥当な構成概念, 内的信頼性および識別妥当性を有し, 今後の臨床応用の可能性が示された.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference in educational effect on students who experienced both lecture-based learning (LBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) in a complete denture course. The analysis focused on differences between the two methods concerning self study, ability to understand clinical inference, and appraisal of class contents and tutors. Methods In the complete denture preclinical course, the class of 2003 received LBL in 3rd grade and PBL in 4th grade. PBL was planned to present five cases in five consecutive classes. Group discussion was carried out for each case, and a summary was required to be produced two times as a group, two times as an individual report and one time by group presentation. A questionnaire regarding the educational effect of LBL and PBL and assessment of tutors was administered. Factor analysis was carried out to classify the questionnaire items and each item was analyzed between LBL and PBL (Paired-t test). Results Factor analysis revealed that the questionnaire items could be classified into four components. Comparing lecture type and PBL: "study attitude" (4 out of 7 items), "clinical inference ability" (all items), "class contents" (5 out of 7 items) and "tutor appraisal" (2 out of 5 items) showed significant assessment with PBL. Eighteen of 27 items (66.6%) indicated the significant usefulness of PBL. Conclusion PBL improves the educational effect of self study and clinical inference ability, in comparison with LBL. However, since students are passive about taking the same system class repeatedly, a strategy to improve their attitude needs to be considered.

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of the pain tolerance threshold (PTT) induced by electrical stimulation of the alveolar ridge. A total of 100 healthy volunteers studying or working at Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo and patients from Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo Affiliated Hospital, including 51 men (58.7 ± 17.6 years old) and 49 women (60.7 ± 17.1 years old), participated in this study. The volunteers were enrolled after obtaining written informed consent. PTT measurements were obtained using a Neurometer CPT/C® device to deliver electrical stimulation around the left greater palatine foramen at frequencies of 5 and 250 Hz. When the stimulus could no longer be tolerated, the participant released a button to automatically discontinue the stimulus. After the distribution of the PTT values was analyzed, the influence of gender, age, and Eichner index on PTT was analyzed. The Eichner index values were divided into three categories: group A (four supporting zones), group B (less than four supporting zones but with anterior tooth contact), and group C (no occlusal contact). The PTT values did not show a normal distribution. There were no significant differences in PTT between men and women. PTT was significantly associated with age (P = 0.017) at 5 Hz in men. There were no significant differences in PTT among the Eichner index groups. The characteristics of the PTT of the alveolar ridge are as follows: (1) age and PTT at 5 Hz are significantly associated with men but not with women, and (2) the Eichner index has no influence on the PTT.

Purpose Osteoporosis contributes to impaired bone regeneration and remodeling through an imbalance of osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity, and can delay peri-implant bone formation after dental implant surgery, resulting in a prolonged treatment period. It poses several difficulties for individuals with large edentulous areas, and decreases their quality of life. Consequently, prompt postoperative placement of the final prosthesis is very important clinically. Peri-implant bone formation may be enhanced by systemic approaches, such as the use of osteoporosis supplements, to promote bone metabolism. We aimed to confirm whether intake of synthetic bone mineral (SBM), a supplement developed for osteoporosis, could effectively accelerate peri-implant bone formation in a rat model of osteoporosis. Methods Thirty-six 7-week-old ovariectomized female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive a standardized diet with or without SBM (Diet with SBM group and Diet without SBM group, respectively; n =18 for both). The rats underwent implant surgery at 9 weeks of age under general anesthesia. The main outcome measures, bone mineral density (BMD) and pull-out strength of the implant from the femur, were compared at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results Pull-out strength and BMD in the Diet with SBM group were significantly greater than those in the Diet without SBM group at 2 and 4 weeks after implantation. Conclusions This study demonstrated that SBM could be effective in accelerating peri-implant bone formation in osteoporosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum cutoff values on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for assessing patients'level of satisfaction with their complete dentures, and to extend its use in the clinical setting.Methods: Cross-sectional consecutive sampling was conducted to gather subjective ratings of existing complete dentures using both VAS and a four-point verbal descriptive scale (VDS). Eighty-two edentulous individuals (39 male and 43 female; mean age: 71.6±8.1years) participated in the study. The satisfaction ratings for existing dentures were measured using both the VAS and the four-point VDS at baseline. Agreement between the patient ratings on the VAS and the four-point VDS was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and the cutoff values were estimated by analysis of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC).Results: There was significant agreement between the patient ratings on the VAS and the four-point VDS (overall: r=0.84, P

症例の概要: 患者は63歳女性で上下顎総義歯の不調による咀嚼障害を主訴に2002年3月紹介受診された. The American College of Prosthodontistsの無歯顎分類でClassIV, また装着義歯はSatoらの方法で30/100と評価された. 義歯装着時の水平的下顎位は不安定でタッピングポイントは収束せず, また納得できる義歯を装着したことがないのは自分の口腔の状態に起因していると思いこんでいる様子が, 問診よりうかがえた. 咬合の不調和に伴う咀嚼障害および義歯不適応症と診断し, 補綴学的には治療用義歯を用いた水平的顎位の修正および心身医学的には受容型の対話および傾聴を中心としたアプローチで対応した. 初診より19回の調整を重ね, 2003年4月に最終義歯を装着し, 約2カ月経過時より症状の訴えが減少し, 特に食事に対する捉え方が前向きになり, 患者の食後感に有意な改善が認められた.考察: 長期にわたる義歯の不調により水平的下顎位の安定が損なわれたことと, 患者の実直かつ几帳面な性格から, 原因が自己の口腔内にあるものとの自己嫌悪感が重なり, 義歯不適応症を惹起したと思われた. これに対し, 適切な補綴処置と受容型の対応および保証により緩和したと考えられた.結論: 適切な補綴学的および心身医学的アプローチの重要性に加え, 患者の食後感を用いた評価の有用性が示唆された.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to establish an original Japanese version of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and assess its descriptive statistics, reliability and validity as an outcome measure of complete denture prostheses.Materials and Methods : Fifty-eight subjects (28 male and 30 female from 49 to 85 years of age ; mean age, 70.9 years) were recruited from edentulous patients who requested fabrication of new complete dentures (both maxillary and mandibular). General satisfaction and seven related items were selected for evaluation. Patients rated their existing prostheses at the first and second visits. Reliability was assessed with internal consistency and test-retest. Concurrent validity was assessed with association between general satisfaction and other items by simple linear regression.Results : Significant differences were found between ratings of maxillary and mandibular dentures for general satisfaction (p=0.002), ability to masticate (p=0.004), ability to speak (p=0.013), stability (p=0.008), retention (p=0.001) and comfort (p=0.001). Distributions were overall skewed to the left for the maxillary and bimodal for the mandibular. Sufficient internal consistency and a correlation coefficient were obtained for each item. Significant relationships between general satisfaction and other items were found. However, the strength of explanation varied from 11.9 to 76.6%Conclusion : The Japanese version of the VAS is considered to have sufficient reliability and validity for use as an outcome measure of patients' satisfaction with complete denture prostheses.

This position paper reviews physical and mechanical properties of thermoplastic resin used for non-metal clasp dentures, and describes feature of each thermoplastic resin in clinical application of non-metal clasp dentures and complications based on clinical experience of expert panels. Since products of thermoplastic resin have great variability in physical and mechanical properties, clinicians should utilize them with careful consideration of the specific properties of each product. In general, thermoplastic resin has lower color-stability and higher risk for fracture than polymethyl methacrylate. Additionally, the surface of thermoplastic resin becomes roughened more easily than polymethyl methacrylate. Studies related to material properties of thermoplastic resin, treatment efficacy and follow-up are insufficient to provide definitive conclusions at this time. Therefore, this position paper should be revised based on future studies and a clinical guideline should be provided.

This study aimed to determine changes in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and bone strength of ovariectomized rats fed a synthetic diet of Mg, Zn, and F incorporated with carbonate apatite. Group 1 (n=4) was fed a Normal Mineral Diet (NMD) and Group 2 (n=4) was fed the Synthetic Diet (SD: 0.74% Ca, 0.48% P, 0.10% Mg, 365.4 ppm Zn, 51.01 ppm F and 0.27% CO3). Rats were sacrificed after eight weeks and the femur was isolated. The micro-CT results showed that values of BMD for Group 2 were higher than those of Group 1. Bone strength values of Group 2 measured by a 3-point bending test were significantly higher than those of Group 1. These results indicated that Group 2 stimulated bone quality, increased BMD and bone strength. The SD has the potential to prevent bone loss and as an osteoporosis therapy.