Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ossification and maturation of the midpalatal suture in young Koreans using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 40 patients with ages from 8.2 to 23.6 years who visited the Department of Orthodontics, Chung-Ang University Dental Hospital. CBCT images were taken for diagnosis. From the CBCT image, morphological stages and Hounsfield units (HU) of midpalatal suture were obtained to evaluate the midpalatal suture maturation. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze relationships between chronological age, morphological stage, and HU. Result: There was a wide variation in the morphology of the midpalatal suture in each age group. It showed a modest relationship between the chronological age and the degree of morphological stages. Also there was a modest relationship between the chronological age and HU. In contrast, there was a significant relationship between morphological stages and HU of midpalatal suture (P<0.01). Conclusion: CBCT images can be used for the evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation. For the estimation of the prognosis of rapid maxillary expansion, CBCT may be reliable for the assessment of the maturation of the midpalatal suture.

Purpose: Surface treatment with pH buffering agent has been developed to achieve higher and faster osseointegration. The aim of this study was to evaluate its influence by measuring removal torque and analyzing histological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Titanium implants with following surfaces were used in this study: sand-blasted acid-etched (SA) surface (SA group as control I group), SA surface in calcium chloride aqueous solution (CA group as control II group) and SA surface coated with pH buffering agent (pH group as test group). Removal torque test after 2 weeks and bone-to-implant contact and bone area analyses at 2 and 4 weeks were performed. Result: The rotational torque values at 2 weeks were significantly higher in pH group ($107.5{\pm}6.2Ncm$, P<0.05). The mean values of bone-to-implant contact at 2 and 4 weeks were both higher in pH group ($93.0%{\pm}6.4%$ at 2 weeks, $88.6%{\pm}5.5%$ at 4 weeks) than in SA group ($49.7%{\pm}9.7%$ at 2 weeks, $47.3%{\pm}20.1%$ at 4 weeks) and CA group ($73.7%{\pm}12.4%$ at 2 weeks, $72.5%{\pm}10.9%$ at 4 weeks) with significances (P<0.05). The means of bone area showed significantly higher numbers in pH group ($39.5%{\pm}11.3%$ at 2 weeks, $71.9%{\pm}10.9%$ at 4 weeks, P<0.05). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that surface modification with pH buffering agent improved early osseointegration with superior biomechanical property.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to measure and compare the removal torques of different cements applied in attachments of zirconia restorations on titanium (Ti) abutments fitted with retrievable cement-type slot (RCS) on the lingual side for the better retrievablity by use of a slot driver. Materials and Methods: Three types of cements were used in the experiment: two permanent cements in $RelyX^{TM}$ U200 (RU) (3M ESPE) which is a resin cement and $FujiCem^{TM}$ (FC) (GC) which is a resin-modified glass ionomer cement, and a temporary cement in $Freegenol^{TM}$ temporary cement (TC) (GC). Measurements of removal torques were conducted as follows; an attached sample was fixed on the equipment customized for the experiment; a slot driver was connected to a MGT12 (Mark-10 Corp.), a torque measurement instrument; the sample had the driver fitted to its RCS and then was rotated until the it was removed; and finally, the maximum torque value was recorded. Result: As for the removal torque measurement results, the average values were $47.9{\pm}2.6Ncm$ for RU, $43.4{\pm}1.5Ncm$ for FC, and $20.9{\pm}1.0Ncm$ for TC. The statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis test yielded the significance probability of P<0.05 (P=0.002), which confirmed the presence of significant differences between the three groups. Conclusion: All three cements exhibit clinically acceptable levels of removal torque when applied to an upper zirconia implant restoration fitted with a lingual slot, with RU and FC, the two permanent cements, having the significantly higher values than that of TC, the temporary cement.

Occlusion may change spontaneously but dental treatment or trauma in the patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may also alter occlusion. This report presents three cases displaying occlusal changes. Review of literature emphasizes the significance of TMD treatment. Conservative treatment modalities such as counseling, medication, physical therapy and splint therapy may be selected as initial treatment options. Irreversible or invasive treatment, such as orthodontic, prosthodontic, and occlusal adjustment should not be attempted early. In case there is no response to conservative treatment, joint injection, muscle injection, arthrocentesis or arthroscopic surgery might be performed.

As the adult population continues to increase, orthodontic treatment for adult patients is becoming more common. This case report describes comprehensive orthodontic treatment of a middle-aged patient with closure of the extraction space without prosthetic restoration. A 55-year-old woman with her maxillary left first premolar extracted because of a periodontal problem, wanted to close the space with orthodontic treatment. Since she had generalized crowding and mild skeletal discrepancy, we planned comprehensive orthodontic treatment, including closure of the extraction space by protraction of the left maxillary molars using miniscrews and aesthetic alignment of anterior teeth. The total treatment period was 28 months. As a result of these treatments, the extraction space was successfully closed, good tooth alignment and satisfactory occlusion were achieved.