However, with the use of DIMENSION analysis, it was become possible to investigate the relationship between the effects of denture treatment and brain function activity. Initially, Morokuma applied DIMENSION to the dental field and reported on the brain function activity of complete denture INCB018424 molecular weight wearers, and then Shibuya reported the brain function activity of partial denture wearers employing the same method. Electroencephalographic

(EEG) measurement was performed in a semi-anechoic room (Fig. 1). EEG were recorded using an ESA-pro developed by Brain Functions Laboratory, Inc. (Kawasaki, Japan) (Fig. 2). Pasteless electrodes were placed inside a helmet worn by each subject. Analysis was performed under the following conditions: sampling frequency, 200 Hz; digital filter, HPF (1.6 Hz, 12 dB/oct), LPF (60 Hz, 12 dB/oct), and HUM (50 Hz, 2D). The electrodes were arranged inside the helmet according to the

international 10–20 system, and 21-channel measurement was performed on the skin of the head (Fig. 3). Reference electrodes were placed on the left and right earlobes. The subjects were seated in a resting position with their eyes closed. After confirming that the EEG detected from all the electrodes was stable, EGFR inhibitor 3-min measurements were made. The data obtained were transferred to the brain wave analysis center at Brain Functions Laboratory, Inc., for DIMENSION analysis. DIMENSION was used to measure α waves, and the optimal condition with a smooth electrical potential distribution was defined as Dα = 1. Dα decreases with a reduction in brain activity. In this study, the value of Dα in the normal region was set to Dα > 0.952, in which Alzheimer-type dementia accounted for 10% and a healthy condition accounted for 90%. When the value of Dα was set to Dα < 0.952,

the subject was classified as sub-normal/impaired [17]. The subjects were 18 complete denture wearers who contacted Tsurumi University Dental Hospital with a chief complaint of complete denture dysfunction. Informed consent was obtained from each individual according to the method approved by the Ethics Committee of Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine (approval number 305: accepted on August 4-Aminobutyrate aminotransferase 31, 2005). The subjects had no history of brain disease, such as cerebral infarction, and had not been diagnosed with dementia-related illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. They comprised 5 males and 13 females, aged 63–87 years (mean: 75.2 years). The conditions of the subjects are shown in Table 1. The alveolar ridge condition was evaluated using the method described by Ohnuki et al. [30]. Complete denture treatments, such as denture adjustment (occlusal adjustment and relief) in 11 subjects, tissue conditioning in 4 subjects, and relining in 3 subjects, were performed in response to complaints of pain, reduction of denture retention, and disharmony.