Miwako HONDA
Director, General Internal Medicine, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center
Multi-modal communication care techniques to convey
gentleness: application of humanitude to clinical practice
Humanitude is a care method that emphasizes building positive relationships with people undergoing care. It is based around the four elements of looking, talking, touching, and standing. It was introduced into Japan in 2012, and research on it has been ongoing in fields such as medicine, nursing, and information science. Its educational and clinical applications have been expanded, and it contributes to improved empathy from medical practitioners and allows patients to maintain their health. Additionally, research is being done on technical development using AI and augmented reality, and clinical research aimed at dental physicians is being carried out.
Humanitude, Dementia, improving Oral health
Ryosuke MATSUKI
Director, Matsuki Dental Clinic, Nogata-shi, Fukuoka
Minimally-invasive endodontic treatment practices
Recent years have seen an emphasis on preserving teeth through minimally-invasive treatment. Previously, endodontic treatment required opening of the pulp chamber, but with the latest techniques, treatments that minimize dentine removal and preserve the root canal shape are possible. However, not all root canals are suitable for minimally-invasive treatment, and complete removal of the cause of inflammation is prioritized for infected root canal treatment in particular. Building on changes in endodontic treatment, this paper describes the meaning of minimally-invasive endodontic treatment, the application of the latest techniques, and specific practices.
Endodontic treatment, Minimally-invasive, Tooth fracture
Motofumi SOGO
Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University
Mouth training through PaTaKaRa exercises!
A new challenge for oral function management
What is required of modern dentistry in Japan is health management and multi-disciplinary collaborations aimed at reducing medical costs. This article will introduce a mouth training app, KUCHI-TRE, developed by the author to provide oral function management for all citizens and age groups. This is a smartphone app that unifies training based on PaTaKaRa exercises and PaTaKa's oral diadochokinesis, and is an innovative app that adds a “game element” as a way to change behavior and management functions.
PaTaKaRa exercises, Oral diadochokinesis, Gamification
Shigeto YOSHIMATSU
Director, Yoshimatsu Dental Clinic, Shishinkai Medical Corporation
Comprehensive denture design to suit specific patient functions
In a super-aged society, there is an increasing need for both edentulous prosthodontics and multiple missing teeth prosthodontics. Edentulous prosthodontics are difficult to design and fabricate, as there are few indicators to guide the lost aesthetics and functionality that are desired to be restored. This paper lays out the fundamentals of occlusal reconstruction in edentulous and multiple missing teeth prosthodontics based on existing evidence and diagnostic methods, and presents clinical cases.
Denture space, Growth and development, Examination and diagnosis
Kiminori SATO
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sato Clinic & Hospital
Maxillary sinus complications associated with dental implants
The treatment of maxillary sinus complications associated with dental implantations differs significantly between the departments of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Dentistry/Oral Surgery. As the maxillary sinus is a part of the paranasal sinuses, its pathophysiology should be understood, diagnosed, and treated within the framework of paranasal sinus diseases. A minimally-invasive approach that minimizes patient impact and adverse effects while adhering to contemporary medical standards and evidence-based practices should be applied to all patients experiencing maxillary sinus complications associated with dental implants. Such an approach may also contribute to the prevention of medical disputes.
Odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, Pathophysiology, Ostiomeatal complex
Kazuo SEKIZAKI
Director, Sekizaki Dental Clinic
Early intervention for occlusal guidance to extend healthy life expectancy
An investigation at the author’s clinic of patients who had 20 to 29 or more remaining teeth at the age of 80 revealed that most had nearly normal occlusion, with no cases of anterior crossbite. Notably, 80-year-old patients with 29 or more remaining teeth also maintained canine guidance. Canine guidance plays a crucial role in preventing occlusal collapse in old age. Therefore, if canine guidance can be established during the childhood growth and development period and maintained into old age, patients could achieve 20 to 29 or more remaining teeth, improve their quality of life (QOL), and extend their healthy life expectancy. It should be recognized that early intervention to establish appropriate occlusal guidance serves as the foundation for maintaining lifelong healthy occlusion.
occlusal guidance, healthy life expectancy, canine guidance
Takanori IWATA
Professor and Chair Department of Periodontology,Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences,
Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo)
Rapid advances in periodontal therapy
Over the past decade, a range of pharmaceuticals and medical devices have been developed and marketed for periodontal treatment, and their use has spread to clinical practice. Biologically active materials and bone grafting materials have been approved, and phototherapy using lasers or LEDs has also become more common, with its secondary effects being investigated. Furthermore, the benefits of digitalization have been applied to periodontal treatment and implant therapy, leading to the advancement of minimally invasive treatments. This review introduces some of these developments and discusses the future of periodontal therapy.
periodontal tissue examination, periodontal regenerative therapy, cytotherapy
Yutaro ANDO, Masayuki TSUKASAKI
Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Showa Medical University
New trends in osteoimmunology research for oral diseases
Periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and orthodontic tooth movement are common clinical challenges in dentistry. These conditions are closely linked to interactions between bone metabolism and immune responses. Osteoimmunology, an interdisciplinary field exploring these interactions, provides critical insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying these complex pathologies and paves the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. In this review, we highlight recent advances in osteoimmunology research in oral biology, focusing particularly on our latest findings.
Osteoimmunology, Periodontitis, Cancer
Kenzo MIZUMA
Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University
Can stellate ganglion block therapy alone be used to treat inferior alveolar nerve damage caused by calcium-based root canal medication that has spilled into the mandibular canal?
For cases of inferior alveolar nerve damage caused by the spillage of strongly alkaline root canal medication into the mandibular canal, 171 stellate ganglion blocks (SGB) were performed over a 4-year period, with a 98% recovery rate. Immediately after the start of SGB, spontaneous pain in the lower lip and chin disappeared, and as SGB was repeated, symptoms such as allodynia (in which touch, heat, and cold sensations inside and outside the mouth turn into pain), dysesthesia (an annoying tingling sensation), a protruding sensation as if the teeth were floating, tactile hypersensitivity, and paresthesia (in which the tingling sensation is not bothersome), appeared and disappeared, but only a sensation of tension in the lower lip and chin remained.
Highly alkaline root canal medication, inferior alveolar nerve injury, stellate ganglion block