The health of the periodontal tissues greatly depends on the integrity of the gingival and periodontal fibers. This article presents a concise summary of these fibers, using information froln the current literature as well as from the textbooks.

The gingival fibers are arranged in the following: dentogingival, dentoperiosteal, alveologingival, transseptal, circular, interpapillary, semicircular, transgingival and intergingival fibers. Periodontal fibers consist of 5 groups such as alveolar crest, horizontal, oblique, apical and interradicular ones. In the periodontium, besides these principal fibers, there are intermedi

ate fibers and indifferent fibers.

Deficiency of vitamin D produces rickets in growing children. This disease is characterized by a failure of calcification of cartilage and bone. Children with rickets show severe disturbances in the teeth and jaws. We made reference to literatures and got some oral findings.

A 15-year-old girl was referred by the physician to our Clinic for evaluation of recurrent gingival abscess of one months’ duration. She had been admitted for treatment of rickets at the Clinic of Orthopedic Surgery of Iwate Medical University.

Oral examination revealed open-bite, high arched palate, V-shaped maxillary arch, retardation of the teeth eruption, malpositioning of the teeth, gingival abscess, and severe enamel hypoplasia of both the maxillary and mandibular teeth. Dental caries were also found in these defected teeth.

Radiographic examinations revealed disappearance of lamina dura, somewhat enlarged pulp chamber and root canal, retardation of alveolar process, and reduced radiopacity. Cephalometric roentgenograms showed retardation of the vertical and horizontal growth of the maxillary bone.

We tried to conserve as many teeth as possible, and consequently the patient attained good dentition and sufficient occlusal recovery.

A widespread prevalence of dental caries in deciduous teeth has been noticed in children aged 1-2 years in Japan, recently. This trend has forced more difficult to reduce the dental caries in permanent dentition. Comprehensive activities for community dental health have been needed urgently for caries prevention at this time.

This preliminary study was collducted to demonstrate that implementation of team approach to caries prevention program by means of community organization in rural village(population: 6736)of Iwate prefecture. The team consists of dentists, dental hygienists, public health nurses and other members of the co㎜unity The annual programs comprise fluoride topical application(APF and 8% stannous fluoride solutions) for children, and plaque control and diet counselling for children and parents included. Epidemiological investigation was done on caries experience(deft and DMFT) of the subjects 236 children aged 1-4 years and 577 school children aged 6-11 years in 1975. Specific age analyses of caries experience showed that the values of deft index were 1.57 for aged 1-years, 3.54 for aged 2-years, 7.62 for aged 3-years, and 9.83 for aged 4-years children, respectively and those of DMFT index were 0.70-3.90 through aged 6-11 years school children. The aim of this investigation is focussed on the longitudinal evaluation on the effect of the caries preventive means in this community to assess the shift of pattern of the caries prevalence in future studies.

A certain type of rapidly spreading gangrenous cellulitis was called Ludwig’s angina. We experienced a successful treatment of a patient with this infection, consisting of the general supportive therapy and immediate administration of high levels of antibiotics.

A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic in severe distress because of a diffuse, indurated, submandibular and sublingual swelling of three days’ duration.

Examination disclosed the moderate hazard of airway obstraction, trismus, severe dysphagia and a temperature of 39.4℃. Local examination showed severe swelling of the floor of the mouth and elevated tongue.

Antibiotic therapy was started with Sodium Cephalothin 1g every 6 hours intravenously for four days, and Cephaloridin 1g every 6 hours intramuscularly for 14 days. Exploratory puncture proved pus formation on the 2nd day, then incision and tube drainage were performed. Thereafter, the patient improved steadily as indicated by reduction of temperature, cessation of drainage. Drainage continued for 14 days.

The patient was discharged in good condition after 20 days hospitalization.

A case of epulis osteoplastica(peripheral fibroma with calcification) in the maxilla has been reported.

A 51-year-old man was referred to our clinic, complaining of swelling in the left maxilla of about ten years’ duration. Physical examination revealed a pedunculated and cartilagelike hard mass of the size of an infant’s fist in the region of . Roentgenologic examination disclosed severe resorptive changes of the alveolar bone in the region of 2-5 and a number of scattered calcified materials in the mass.

Under I. V. sedation with diazepam and local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine, the mass was excised en bloc, including the teeth of 2-5. The postoperative course was satisfactory.

Histopathologic diagnosis was epulis fibrosa osteoplastica.