Positioning and mobility of the mandibular condyle after surgical correction of the asymmetric, prognathic mandible.

Following the extraoral vertical subcondylar osteotomy in the correction of the highly asymmetric and prognathic mandible, only insignificant radiographic changes were observed in the temporomandibular joint 12 months postoperatively. Slight morphologic alterations of the condylar seating were demonstrated at occlusion, but there was no significant difference in condylar position between the two sides of the surgically corrected asymmetric mandible. The condylar axis did not deviate from the preoperative situation, and condylar axis did not deviate from the preoperative situation, and condylar mobility was fully resumed 12 months postoperatively. The extraoral vertical subcondylar osteotomy procedure is applicable in the treatment of combined mandibular asymmetry and prognathism and does not create morphologic changes that differ in the two temporomandibular joints.

Mitral valve prolapse in craniofacial skeletal deformities.

Mitral valve prolapse is a manifestation of a diffuse connective tissue disorder resulting from mesenchymal dysplasia, and it may have an increased association with orthognathic craniofacial deformities. Since craniofacial deformities also result from mesenchymal dysplasias, there may be a causal relationship between them and mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve prolapse is reviewed briefly in relation to the embryologic development of the facial skeleton. A slightly increased incidence of mitral valve prolapse has been noted but not statistically studied by the authors in their orthognathic patient population. It is hypothesized that patients with mitral valve prolapse have a typical facies that can be cephalometrically measured and identified.

Specialization in dentistry.

Specialization in dentistry is appropriate for any country, in order to serve its primary functions--to provide a sound dental educational base, to meet the needs of special patients, to react to the complex needs of society on behalf of the dental profession, and to meet the growth needs of individual dentists. Each country must determine for itself the types and numbers of dental specialties it needs to meet the demands of its people. However, as specialties develop, attention should be directed toward preventing an unnecessary over commitment of resources to the education and training of more specialists than are needed. Such an excess of specialists would dilute or compromise the concept of the general practitioner, which must be maintained to insure for the public ready access into the dental health care system.

The manpower survey of oral surgery in 1974. Part 1 of two parts. 1. Introduction and some general characteristics of oral surgeons.

Questionnaires requesting much data about oral surgeons and their practice of the specialty were mailed to the members of the American Society of Oral Surgeons. A total of 2,251 usable questionnaires were returned. The methods used in the survey and to summarize the data have been described and some general characteristics of the responding oral surgeons have been supplied in this report. Almost 76% (75.8%) of the oral surgeons returned usable questionnaires. Only 2.4% of the respondents were younger than 30 years and 60.5% were in the age range of 30 to 44 years. The average age of all respondents was 43.0 years. Slightly more than 80% participate in private practice either full-time or part-time teaching. Only 5.1% of the respondents aged 65 to 69 had retired. Almost 82% (81.7%) were active members of the Society. More respondents (24.7%) practiced in cities with populations larger than 500,000 and only 4.5% practiced in cities with populations less than 25,000. More than half of the 2,251 respondents (53.8%) practiced in cities with populations less than 150,000, and 44.4% were in cities with populations less than 100,000.