Two Cases of Severe Dementia Showing Dramatic Improvement after Denture Placement

Abstract

Severe dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is intractable and progressive. The purpose of this study was to document the improvement observed in two cases of severe dementia after denture placement. The subjects, two women in their 70s with severe dementia, were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease by the medical doctors in charge of their cases. In the first case, the subject's symptoms included severe disorientation, impaired communication, and a tendency to wander. Two weeks after a lower complete denture placement, she was able to greet others. Five weeks later, she was able to communicate and precisely read an analog clock. Her condition continued to improve for at least 3 months. In the second case, the subject's mouth was always open. She was bedridden in a vegetative state and hardly moved, talked, or laughed; it was impossible to communicate with her. Only a few seconds after an upper complete denture placement, she started to talk, albeit unintelligibly. Two weeks after a lower complete denture placement, she could communicate normally, laugh, and walk without help. Although the underlying mechanism has not yet been clarified, the author hypothesizes that positive signals from the oral area are transferred to the brain as positive stimulation via the trigeminal nerve, the largest cranial nerve.

Two Cases of Parkinson’s Disease for Which Dental Treatment Was Effective

“…PD is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compac-ta [11]. I have previously reported the relationship between dental health and other pathological conditions [7] [12] [13] [14] [15]. A systemic disease, in which dentistry is involved in the cause, may be considered intractable.…”

“…Moreover, a person with PD has two to six times the risk of developing dementia compared to the general population [5] [6]. Previously, I reported cases in which severe dementia improved dramatically after denture placement [7]. Considering the above possible association between PD and dementia, therefore, there may be a close relationship between dental health and brain function.…”

Evaluation of a Mouthguard Customized Using the Occlusal Position during Maximal Grip Strength to Improve Sports Performance. A Case Report

“…Mouthguards are considered effective devices for buffering impacts that may cause dental and maxillofacial injuries during sports; however, their use alters the occlusal and mandibular positions. These changes have a substantial effect on full-body functioning [7]- [12] and may impact sports performance [13] [14] [15]. In this report, two customized mouthguards were compared.…”

“…In this report, two customized mouthguards were compared. The old mouthguard raised the occlusal vertical dimension by approximately 3 mm at the anterior teeth; the new one provided the same occlusal vertical dimension but was designed with a horizontal occlusal position that was associated with the maximal grip strength achieved during the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test [4] [5] [6] [11] [12]. When using the new mouthguard, higher kicking force, punching force, and back muscle strength were achieved than those achieved when using Figure 4.…”

Dental Treatment with a Gold Alloy Cast Crown for Severe Lumbago

“…Studies have shown that oral conditions, especially occlusion, are closely associated with other parts of the body, for example, body posture, temporomandibular disorder, and cervicobrachial issues [1] [2] [3] [4]. The author has also re-ported on the relationship of occlusion [5] [6] and shape [7] of the tooth with the whole-body condition. Moreover, the author has reported on the relationship between electromagnetic waves and systemic conditions affecting the body [8]- [16] and intractable dermatitis owing to dental metal [17] [18].…”