Objective. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the jaw function anatomical changes subsequent to orthodontic treatment combined with mandibular advancement or set-back surgery. Study design. The sample consisted of 67 combined skeletal and dental malocclusion patients, who had received orthodontic and surgical treatment previously. Three and 6 months following jaw surgery, the following jaw functions were evaluated: the level of occlusal force developed, the efficiency of masticatory function, the size in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the rdlationship between occlusal force and maxillo-mandibular skeletal change, and the range of mandibular movement. Results. The results revealed that after surgery the occlusal force, masticatory function, TMJ positioning, and mandibular movement distance were all different from presurgery values. The surgical set-back group jaw function recovery proved to be more rapid than that for the mandibular-advancement group. Conclusion. Surgical mandibular advancement and set-back by sagittal-split osteotomy influence subsequent mandibular function.

The aim of this study was to discover the clinical value of the tumour marker AMDL DR-70 in a group of patients with cancer of the tongue. Serum concentrations of AMDL DR-70 were estimated by enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay in 52 patients with carcinoma of the tongue and compared with 40 controls and 42 patients with benign lesions in the tongue. Thirty-nine patients with carcinoma of the tongue had results above 6 mg/L (75%), compared with 3/40 (7%) in healthy controls and 4/42 (10%) in those with benign tumours. The concentration of AMDL DR-70 in serum correlated significantly with 3-year survival.

Purpose: A new operating method was used to treat traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis, to restore the structure of the TMJ, to improve the secondary maxillofacial deformity, and prevent recurrence of TMJ ankylosis. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six patients (20 females, 16 males; aged 5 to 54 years old) with TMJ ankylosis type II or III of 1 to 16 years’ duration, with a maximal mouth opening from 0 to 15 mm preoperatively participated. The new method was to separate bony fusion between condyle and glenoid fossa, remove the condylar fragment that displaced medially or roinferiorly, mobilize the remains of the disc over the condylar stump and suture it with rticular capsule, and shave the surface of the condylar stump and glenoid fossa smooth. Results: Follow-up was performed from 1 to 7 years postoperatively in 21 cases. No recurrences occurred in patients whose TMJ disc was retained during operation. Patients had an average maximal mouth opening of 33.7 mm postoperatively. An 11-year-old patient showed an improved facial symmetry after surgery. Conclusion: By restoring the normal structure of the TMJ and preservation of the disc, recurrence of traumatic TMJ ankylosis and facial deformity in younger patients can be prevented.

To measure the activity of oxygen free radicals and the level of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the synovial fluid (SF) of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Methods: Thirty-two patients were divided into 3 subgroups: anterior disc displacement with reduction, anterior disc displacement without reduction, and osteoarthrosis. Six healthy volunteers served as controls. A pumping procedure was used to take SF from the superior TMJ space. The concentration of lipid peroxidation products was assessed by means of the thiobarbituric acid reaction, and the level of SOD was assessed with spectrophotometry. Results: SF levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) in the control and patient groups were 0.010 (

The purpose of this study was to investigate the waveform and electrosonographic characteristics of sounds emanating from internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ sounds were ecorded from 10 joints of normal people (NP), 10 joints from patients with anterior disc isplacement with reduction (DDR) and 20 joints from patients with anterior disc displacement without reduction (DDNR). The sounds were analyzed through fast Fourier transfer methods to observe their waveforms and electrosonographic characteristics. The observations were then used in differentially diagnosing internal derangement. Wave pattern and electrosonography (ESG) differed among the NP, DDR and DDNR groups. There was very little difference in frequency between the sounds from DDR and DDNR, but the amplitude of the DDR sounds was higher than those of DDNR and NP. The sensitivity and specificity of ESG diagnosis for DDR were 77.2% and 93.3%, respectively, while for DDNR they were 81.6% and 64.7%, respectively.