While osteomas often occur in the orofacial area, it is relatively rare for one to occur in the temporomandibular joint area. Here, we report a patient who underwent multidisciplinary treatment including high condylectomy for peripheral osteoma arising in the left mandibular condyle. The patient was a 46-year-old woman with the chief complaint of facial asymmetry. Cephalometric analysis revealed skeletal anterior crossbite due to anterior deviation of the mandible, with chin deviation of 10 mm to the right. A computed tomography scan revealed bone hyperplasia in the mesiodistal and inner areas of the left mandibular condyle, which exhibited outward anterior displacement. Bone scintigraphy showed a circular area of strong radioisotope accumulation with indistinct boundaries, consistent with the lesion in the left mandibular condyle. The above findings led to a diagnosis of skeletal mandibular prognathism with facial asymmetry due to peripheral osteoma originating in the left mandibular condyle. After orthodontic treatment and surgical resection of the tumor and mandibular condyle, preservation and prosthetic treatment were undertaken. A well-balanced facial appearance and good occlusion were achieved.

This case report describes the use of an osseointegrated implant to maximize anchorage in a 24-year-old female orthodontic patient with an Angle Class II, Division 1 malocclusion. Preadjusted edgewise appliance therapy was performed by extraction of only the maxillary first premolars. The osseointegrated implant was placed in the mediansagittal region of the hard palate for maximum orthodontic anchorage and connected to maxillary first molar bands via a transpalatal arch. Total treatment time was 2 years and 8 months. Cephalometric superimposition revealed the achievement of maximum molar anchorage in the maxilla, resulting in satisfactory occlusal and facial improvements. Histological analysis of the implant-bone interface demonstrated that the fixture was successfully osseointegrated. In conclusion, the osseointegrated implant placed in the median-sagittal palate was shown to be an effective orthodontic system that can be used clinically as a rigid intraoral anchorage

Discomfort or an abnormal feeling in the laryngopharynx during swallowing can be arise with various causes. However, the discomfort caused by anomaly of the uvula is very rare. We encountered a patient with a long uvula touch to the tongue who had an abnormal feeling during mastication and swallowing. The patient had been done a partial uvulectomy, then the abnormal feeling was disappeared.

Calcium phosphate (Ca-P) ceramics are well known for their excellent osteo-conductivity. However, factors critical to the mineralization process of Ca-P ceramics are not fully understood, including the importance of the crystal system, the Ca/P ratio, the solubility and the surface morphology of the materials. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the initial mineralization behavior of osteoblast-like cells on Ca-P ceramics of different crystal systems and Ca/P ratios but with similar solubilities and surface morphologies. Cell attachment and cell proliferation were not significantly different among hydroxyapatite, [3-tricalciun1 phosphate and titanium. However, the activity of alkaline phosphatase, the co11centration of osteocalcin and the formation of mineralized nodules revealed that the initial mineralization of osteoblast-like cells was better on Ca-P ceramics than on titanium, although no significant differences were found between [5-tricalcium phosphate and hyclroxyapatite. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that differences in the crystal system are not a predominant factor in the initial mineralization process of osteoblast-like cells, suggesting that the solubility of Ca-P ceramics may play an important role in the clinical implant treatment.In clinical practice, it is recognized that osseointegration plays an important role in the success of dental implants. Although titanium (Ti) has a greater ability than other metals to facilitate osseointegration (l), the presence of amorphous structures between Ti and bone tissues introduces the risk of large gap formations and a loss of osseointegration under unfavorable conditions such as infection and overloading of the implants. In contrast, there have been a number of reports showing that the rate of osteogenesis in Ti and Ti alloy implants is lower than in calcium phosphate (Ca-P) implant materials (24, 30, 31).

In Japan, where medical treatment and welfare are highly developed, it is rare that cleft palate is left untreated for long periods. We recently encountered four patients with cleft palate, which did not undergo palatoplasty for a long period of 50 years. We performed palatoplasty by the Wardill method. We describe the patients and the main intraoperative points because good results were obtained.