An easy examination for oral dryness in dental patients is needed. This study suggested that oral dryness can be examined using either an oral moisture checking device or a modified cotton method.

A new oral moisture checking device (Mucus ® ) has been developed that can measure oral mucosal moisture within 2 seconds. The results of this study suggest that oral mucosal moisture can be measured with the new oral moisture checking device without any inter-operator error. AbstractPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that may influence the results of measurements of oral mucosal moisture using the new oral moisture checking device, especially in relation to the operator and the sensor cover. Methods:Oral mucosal moisture was measured using a new oral moisture checking device (Mucus ® ). To determine the influence of the operator on the measured values by the oral moisture checking device, 5 operators measured the oral mucosal moisture in 12 subjects. The differences were analyzed using the Friedman test. To determine the influence of the sensor cover, one operator measured the oral mucosal moisture in 12 subjects using two sensor covers. The differences were analyzed by Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Results:The result of the Friedman test revealed the absence of any significant influence of the operator on the measured values of oral mucosal moisture by the oral moisture checking device. The results of the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test revealed that the measured values of oral mucosal moisture by the measuring device differed by about 1.6 % between the two sensor covers (P<0.01). Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that oral mucosal moisture can be measured using the new oral moisture checking device without any interoperator error. However, there is some possibility of the measured values differing depending on the sensor cover used.

Three denture marking methods were performed on specimen plates which were prepared using a heat-cured acrylic resin. The first method (LA) was to place a label into a suitable space on the specimen, and then cover it with autopolymerizing acrylic resin. The second method (DA) was to print the mark directly on the specimen, and then cover it with autopolymerizing acrylic resin. The third method (DB) was to print the mark directly on the specimen, and then cover it with bonding resin. To investigate the durability of these methods, specimens were immersed in NaOCl, denture cleanser, and coffee. Photographs of the specimens were taken and RGB values were measured. Differences in durability were analyzed by Friedman test. The RGB values were significantly different between LA and DB, but those of DA changed little. The results made it clear that DA was a more durable denture marking method than LA -which is a method generally used.

Abstract:To clarify the correlation between the changes in the status of the occlusion system and the systemic posture, an investigation of the states of denture wearing in edentulous and changes in their body sways associated with occlusal support was made, focusing on the postural reflex. Body sway was assessed under four conditions : during clenching, centric occlusion, the rest position wearing upper and lower dentures and during the rest position with no dentures.The following results were obtained :1. The standard deviation in the X component (right-left direction) of body sway was significantly larger during the rest position without dentures than during either of the rest position, centric occlusion, or clenching with dentures.2. The differences in the standard deviations in the Y component (anterior-posterior direction) were not significant among the above four conditions.3. The distance of body sway during the rest position with dentures was significantly larger than any distance during centric occlusion or clenching with dentures, or during the rest position without dentures.

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