1 Introduction
IT IS ESSENTIALto carry out a careful oral examination to
establish a definite diagnosis. In particular, the exami-
nation of periodontal tissues including the appearance of
the gingiva surface, a measurement of the periodontal
pocketing, X-ray examination, and in some cases a histo-
pathological examination is indispensable to the diagnosis.
A manual examination of tooth mobility is carried out
regularly because it may give an indication of the degree of
attachment loss. Increased tooth mobility may also give an
indication of the state of the periodontium, which may be
altered in inflammatory periodontal disease and occlusal
trauma (HALSTEAD et al., 1982). The measurement of
mobility is important in planning treatment and in evalu-
ating its results. Manual tooth mobility is estimated by
moving a tooth with the fingers or dental hand instru-
ments. The readings of trained observers may correspond
to the degree of tooth movement, but their interpretation
requires skill and experience.
Recently the Periotest method (VON KONIG et al., 1981;
D'HOEDT et al., 1985) has been designed to measure tooth
mobility objectively. However, the readings for this
method (the contact time per impact between rod and
First received 6th April and in final form 15th August 1988
~) IFMBE: 1989
Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing
tooth) does not always correspond precisely to a bio-
mechanical parameter. The mechanical mobility (a recipro-
cal of mechanical impedance) of human teeth has also been
reported (NoYEs et al., 1968; NoYEs and SOLT, 1972; 1973;
1977) but has not been widely used in clinical dentistry.
This paper aims at interpreting tooth mobility by a
mechanical mobility measurement using an impedance
head device. Mechanical mobility measurements may have
some relationship to the underlying histopathology. They
also more accurately measure tooth mobility. The possible
relationships between periodontal pathology and mechani-
cal mobility are investigated using tooth model experi-
ments. Lastly it is proposed that tooth mobility may give
an indication of the degree of periodontal attachment loss.
2 Measurement and modelling of periodontal
tissues
2.1 Measuring device for biomechanical properties of the
periodontal tissues
Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a portable measuring
device for investigating the biomechanical properties of the
periodontal tissues (OKA and YAMAMOTO,1985; OKA et al.,
1987). The vibrator is driven by a random wave which is
January 1989 75
 i ow.r
amplifier H filter H r'~176
source

~
amplifier ~[
charge AID
convertor
vibrator~-~

loadce~ l~
.:;;',t

-'t
Fig. 1 Block diagram of the portable measuring device for investiffating the biomechanical properties of the periodontium

restricted by a low-pass filter and amplified by a power
amplifier. The periodontal tissues are vibrated by a sharp
vibrating tip which is placed on the impedance head.
Because the preload which is applied to the periodontal
tissues influences the measured value, a load cell is placed
in the vibrating rod to read the preload.
The impedance head generates the output signals which
are proportional to input acceleration and force response.
They are amplified by charge amplifiers and sampled by an
analogue-to-digital convertor inserted in a microcomputer
(PC-9801, NEC, Japan). The FFT (Fast Fourier transform)
processing of both signals is performed using a Hanning
window function and the mechanical mobility is obtained.
The impedance head and vibrator are handled manually
and it takes about 1.4 s to obtain a spectrum below 1 kHz.
Therefore fluctuation in the preload and involuntary body
movement during measuring can be ignored. During this
measurement the preload is 50gf and the teeth are actu-
ated buccolingually.
and mandibular periodontal tissues as proposed by NoYEs
and SOLT(1973). In their paper, they say that 'The mass m~
has a quantitative relation to the tooth mass itself. The
spring value k may be related to the stiffness of the perio-
dontal ligaments, because the collagen bundles of liga-
ments seem spring-like. As blood and lymph in small
vessels and tissue fluid of the ligament may act as fluid
damping systems, the periodontal fluids are responsible for
the damping c~. The lower region of mechanical mobility
spectrum gives information about structures which are
anatomically deep to the periodontium, i.e. the alveolar
bone (c2, m2)'. The mechanical mobility 2 of this equivalent
model is
1/2 = l/{1/(c I + k/jog) + 1/C2 + 1/jtom2} + jogm I (1)
where 09 is angular frequency. The broken lines of Fig. 3
1
T
Iz

E 161
2.2 Mechanical modelling parameters
Fig. 2 shows a dynamic mechanical model of maxillary ~5
o
162
E

Y 10 -3

10
, J , , i

I00
I ,ll , i , , , l|ll

I000
frequency.Hz

90
c1 ~" 0 t i i i i 1,, i

o
t-
110 ~ f r100
equency, Hz 1000
777777
-90 -- --
Fig. 3 Mobility spectrum of the maxillary left central incisor
c2 [/I (solid line) and its curve fitting (broken line)
show the mobility spectrum obtained using eqn. 1. The
lowest frequency negative slope gives m2 and the ampli-
tude at the nadir gives 1/C2. The mid-frequency positive
slopes gives k and the amplitude of the peak gives 1/cl
Jr 1/C2. The negative slope at the highest frequency gives
mI 9
77777-/ Accordingly it is possible to determine the modelling
Fig. 2 Dynamic mechanical model of the periodontium proposed parameters cl, c 2 and k using graphical techniques. In this
by NOYES and SOLT (1973) study these parameters were obtained rapidly and easily
76 Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing January 1989
from a curve-fitting method using a personal computer. obtained by manual examination. M0 coincides with M0'
Though it is possible to determine five parameters, only in 78.7 per cent, M1 in 100 per cent, M2 in 71.4 per cent
c~, c 2 and k are chosen, because they appear to relate best and M3 in 100 per cent. The curve-fitting error of model-
to the mechanical properties of the periodontal ligament. ling parameters and mistaken diagnoses of tooth mobility
As the measuring frequency is below I kHz, at times non- by a clinician were considered to be the causes of disagree-
peak amplitude at the highest frequency is obtained. In ment. This method produced an accurate and objective
this case, it is difficult to determine c~ accurately. When c~ clinical measurement of tooth mobility, rather than a sub-
changes, the phase spectrum of the mechanical mobility jective estimate which would result from clinical exami-
greatly changes. Therefore c~ is determined from a full nation.
consideration of the phase spectrum. Fig. 3 shows a curve
fitting (broken line) of the mobility spectrum of the maxil-
lary left central incisor (solid line). 3.2 N e w clinical mobility with mobility triangle figure
To understand clinical mobility by visual interpretation
a new mobility triangle figure (MT figure) is proposed (Fig.
3 Clinical tooth mobility 4). The centroid of an equilateral triangle is 0 and each
3.1 Clinical mobility with discriminant score
k
The modelling parameters of the maxillary right and left
central incisors are determined from their mobility spectra e J 9
and curve fittings.
The most common approach to testing tooth mobility
clinically is to support the crown of the tooth on the
lingual surface with an instrument or forefinger and apply
force to the facial surface. The degree of movement is
ascertained by comparison with adjacent teeth that are not
C1 C2 C1 C2
being moved. The mobility is grouped on an M0 to M3
a MO b M11
scale, with the higher number indicating the greater move-
ment both buccolingually and apically (MUHLEMANN,
k k
1967; SCHLUGER et al., 1977; GRANT et al., 1979; HAL-
jl' /l"
STEAD et al., 1982). They are as follows:
M0 = clinically firm tooth within normal range
M 1 = palpable mobility, buccolingually
M2 = visible mobility, buccolingually but with no mobility J

in an apical direction ,:::: -. ,_, 9 .

,_- . . . . . . . . . . _-, ,;_-_". . . . . . "-,
M3 = mobility in response to lip and tongue pressure,
buccolinguaily in addition to mobility in an apical C1 C2 C1 C2

direction c M2 I d M3 I

A discriminant score can derive the objective tooth mobil- k

ity which is scaled on discriminant groups. Variables are
c l , c2 and k, and new groups are M0', Ml', M2' and M3'.
i 9
The new grouping by discriminant score was compared
with that of the manual tooth mobility examination. 69
cases of tooth mobility were examined, of which 47 were in
category M0, nine in M1, seven in M2 and six in M3 as
grouped by manual tooth examination. ;'_2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2";,
Linear discriminant functions are C1 C2

Z0 = 0.2981c~ + 0"0101c 2 + 0"3107k - 8'0961 e deciduous tooth

Z1 = 0"3376c~ + 0"0169c2 - 0"1334k - 4"3020 Fig. 4 Reference mobility triangle figure: (a) MO', (b) MI', (c)
M2', (d) M3' and (e) deciduous tooth
Z2 = -0"0396c~ + 0"0063c 2 + 0"1863k - 1"4773
vertex is a standardised mean value of the modelling
Z3 = -0"0164c 1 + 0"0013c2 + 0'0283k - 0'0407 (2) parameters of healthy periodontium (M0'). Fig. 4a shows a
The scores of the linear discriminant functions are calcu- reference M T figure of M0' with the standard deviation of
lated by an observation (c~, c2 and k). The biggest score in the parameters (shown by I [). Fig. 4b shows that of
Z0, Z1, Z2 and Z3 gives the new group of the observation. MI', Fig. 4c shows that of M2' and Fig. 4d shows that of
If the biggest score is Z0, then the new group is M0', if Z1 M3' also with standard deviations. Although the standard
then Ml', if Z2 then M2' and if Z3 then M3'. deviations are large, it is possible to determine the tooth
Table l shows the relationship between the groups cal- mobility group to which the M T figure belongs. When
culated according to discriminant score and those periodontal pathology advances and tooth movement
becomes greater, the M T figure shrinks and modelling
parameters decrease accordingly.
Table 1 Evaluation of classification by Fig. 4e shows a reference M T figure generated from four
means of discriminant score deciduous teeth which have a healthy periodontium. The
M0' MI' M2' M3' subjects were 4-5 years old and permanent teeth had
M0 37 6 4 0 begun their development. As there are few observations of
M1 0 9 0 0 deciduous teeth, the M T figure is shown without any stan-
M2 0 1 5 1 dard deviations. The modelling parameters of deciduous
M3 0 0 0 6 teeth are smaller than those of permanent teeth.
Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing January 1989 77
4 Measurement of tooth model
4.1 T o o t h model
To examine the physical basis of the modelling param-
eters of periodontium, some tooth models with different
mountings have been made. One is shown in Fig. 5. Patho-
logical mobility is caused by one or more of the following
factors (CARRANZA,1984):
resin
silicone
impression
improved
Fig. 5 Tooth model with different tooth mountings
(a) loss of tooth support (bone loss). The amount of tooth
movement depends upon the severity and distribution
of the tissue loss on individual root surfaces, the length
and shape of the roots, and the root size compared
with that of the crown.
(b) the extension of inflammation from the gingiva into the
periodontal ligament results in degenerative changes
which increase mobility. The changes usually occur in
periodontal disease which has advanced beyond the
early stages, but pathological mobility is sometimes
observed in severe gingivitis.
In this study, the width of impression materials is varied
on the assumption that it represents widening the perio-
9 1000
dental ligament space, which is one of the above (a) of
periodontal changes. The hardness of impression materials
is varied on the above assumption (b) representing its
changes. The height of the surrounding improved stone is
varied on the above assumption of loss of alveolar bone
support, which is also one of the changes above (a).
The artificial tooth consists of a resin (maxillary left
central incisor, B2-306, Nissin) and artificial periodontal
ligaments arc made of silicone impression materials. The
artificial alveolar bone is an improved stone (Vermix stone,
tooth Kerr). The silicone impression materials arc of three types:
(a) Xantopren Gr~in Plus (Griin)
(b) G-C's Flcxicon Regular (Regular)
(c) Xantopren (Plus).
moterio[
The hardness of these materials is 52 (Griin), 47 (Regular)
and 33 (Plus) as tested by a hardness tester (JA, Shimazu).
stone The width of these materials is 0.28mm, 0-56mm and
0.84mm, respectively. The height of the surrounding
improved stone, which is divided into 17 levels between
cervical line and root apex and carefully scraped, is 0
(cervical line) to 7.
4.2 Modelling parameters o f the tooth model
Fig. 6 shows the modelling parameters cl, c2 and k
when the hardness of silicone impression materials is fixed
and the width is varied. In Fig. 6 9 is Plus, A is Griin and
x is Regular. (a) is the change of el, (b) is change ofc 2 and
(c) is change of k. These figures suggest that Cl, c2 and k
decrease when the width of the impression materials
increases. The coefficient of their correlation is - 0 . 8 6 to
-0.99.
Fig. 7 shows the variation in modelling parameters
60

T O A ~ ~ E
E E A z
Ut 0
x o a = (2 o %
Z
X 0 z X ~< Z~
ca x J" o X
2
X O

0 I I J 0 I I I 0 i
XI
0 0'84 0 0'84 0 0 84
d.mm d, mm d, mm

a c1 b c2 c k
Fig. 6 Modelling parameters' changes when the hardness of a silicone impression material is fixed and its width is varied
9 Plus A Grin x Regular

1000 60
A A
I
"T X E
X A "~
E E O z A
ul O X X
Z 0 X Z X --x O
a~ O -
ca O ca ar X X
O O

0
I I I 0 I I I 0 i i I
51 33 51 33 51 33
h Q r d n e s s , JIS h Q r d n e s s , JIS hQrdness, JIS

a c1 b c2 c k

Fig. 7 Modelling parameters' changes when the width is fixed and the hardness is varied. J I S : Japanese Industrial Standard
A 0.28 mm x 0.56 mm 0 0"84 mm
78 Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing January 1989
 8 700 3O

0
'T
0
3 "7 0 E
E 2 E 0 Z
x O
X & 0
Z O
X 6 z
u & x g 8 dr

• • x x
,~
~
o
x
o
ix

I I I I i i 0 I I I I I i i i i Q

o 7 0 7 0 7
resorption resorption resorption

a c1
Fig. 8 Modelling parameters' changes when the surroundinff stone is scraped and the root of the artificial tooth is exposed
0 0.28 mm A 0"56 nun x 0"84 mm
when the width is fixed and the hardness is varied. /X is
0.28ram, x is 0.56mm and O is 0-84mm. These figures
also suggest that the modelling parameters decrease when
the hardness decreases. The coefficient correlation is
- 0 . 7 0 to --0.99.
Fig. 8 shows the experimental results when the sur-
rounding improved stone is scraped and the root of the
artificial tooth is exposed. The impression material is Plus;
O is 0.28mm, A is 0-56ram and x is 0.84mm. It is found
that the modelling parameters decrease when the loss of
alveolar bone support advances. Their correlation coeffi-
cient is - 0 . 8 3 to -0.97.
These experimental results make it clear that (as
expected) the greater a tooth mobility becomes, the smaller
the modelling parameters become. All the modelling
parameters were influenced by the changes.
5 Discussion
In the Periotest (Siemens) method, an electrically con-
b c2 c k
trolled rod percusses the tooth four times per second. The
rod is decelerated when it impinges on the tooth. After
hitting the tooth, the rod recoils. The contact time per
impact between rod and tooth can be recorded by the
microcomputer of the Periotest unit. It calculates the mean
contact time from roughly 16 percussion signals per tooth.
The result obtained t h e n represents the Periotest (PT)
value ( - 8 to 50) of the tooth. In comparison with manual
tooth mobility examination, the PT value can be broken
down into the following ranges: M 0 = - 8 to +9,
M1 = 10 to 19, M2 = 20 to 29 and M3 = 30 to 50. This
value constitutes reproducible, quantitative information of
the state of the periodontium, i.e. damping effect, but its
correspondence to the mechanical structure of periodon-
tium is not clear.
The peculiarity of the present method will be described
below. Maxillary right and left central incisors whose radi-
ographs are shown in Figs. 9a and b were diagnosed as
M0 or M1 and M1 or M2, respectively, by a clinician.
Their discriminant scores are shown in Table 2 and
suggest that the maxillary right and left teeth in Fig. 9a are

o MO-M1 b M1 - M 2
Fig. 9 Radiographs of maxillary right and left central incisors which are inaccurately diagnosed as MO or M I by a clinician

Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing January 1989 79

 Table 2 Discriminant scores of the subjects with ambiguous
diagnoses
ZO Z1
(a) right 3.1690 4.7579
(a) left 2.6762 3"6678
(b) right -3.5070 -0.8826
(b) left -2.6766 - 1.0400
M I' and those in Fig. 9b are M2'. It, thus, appears that
this method can determine the tooth mobility more preci-
sely and accurately than clinical measurements.
Fig. 10a shows an M T figure which a clinician diag-
nosed as M0. Its discriminant scores are Z0 = 7.8735,
Z1 =4.6372, Z2 = 5.2224 and Z3 =0.9754, and this
tooth is M0'. Its M T figure shows that c I and c 2 are
smaller than their means and the viscosity of the periodon-
tal ligament becomes weaker. Fig. 10b shows an M T figure
which a clinician diagnoscd as M2. Its discriminant scores
are -2.8436, -0.4478, 0.81659 and 0.3274, and this tooth
k k
c1 c2 c1
a MO
Fig. 10 M T figures which a clinician diagnosed as representing
as (a) MO and (b) M2
is M2'. The M T figure shows that k and c2 are smaller
than their means of M2' (inner broken lines of the triangle)
and the elasticity of the periodontal fibres becomes weaker,
suggesting pathological viscosity somewhere around the
tooth root. Thus this new method in combination with
discriminant scores and MT figures has the advantage of
not only determining a tooth mobility but also suggesting
a physical characteristic of periodontium.
Fig. 11 shows a correlation among c t . c 2 and k of the
above 69 teeth. 9 is M0, A is M1, x is M2 and [] is M3.
The coefficient of correlation between ct and c2 is 0.6397,
that between ct and k is 0.8277 and that between c 2 and k
is 0-7931. They suggest an adequate correlation. If a for-
9mative mechanism of c t , c 2 and k is elucidated further, it
might be possible to suggest a periodontal diagnosis (e.g.
widening a periodontal ligament space, loss of alveolar
bone support) which would be useful in clinical dentistry.
Such a tentative diagnosis would need confirmation by
other means such as pocket depth measurements and radi-
ographs.
800 50
txOO 0
O O ~ (30
6 Automatic diagnosis of tooth mobility
The automatic diagnosis of tooth mobility by means of
Z2 Z3 discriminant score and M T figure is described in detail.
3.1280 0.6924 First, a table of measurement routines is represented on a
2.4081 0-5297 monitor and a clinician chooses the operation from among
0"7347 0.3288 them. During a measuring routine, the mechanical mobil-
7.1500 0.3902 ity of a tooth is measured and stored on floppy disk. In the
analysing routine, the mechanical mobility is approx-
imated by a computer-aided curve fitting and the model-
ling parameters c 1 , c 2 and k are obtained. The objective
tooth mobility is determined by linear discriminant func-
tions, which are obtained in advance, with the aid of the
modelling parameters. Finally, the M T figure of the tooth
is drawn automatically.
Although the details of the mobility curve fitting are
described above, to gain in operating speed only the
mobility amplitude is considered when obtaining the mod-
elling parameters. This procedure has slightly more fitting
errors but these are not a problem when compared with
the manual curve fitting procedures. The M T figure is
drawn on the basis of the standardised mean values of the
modelling parameter, which belong to the group of the
new objective tooth mobility. On inspection, it is obvious
how the modelling parameters obtained are different from
the mean values, e.g. cl is smaller than the mean value of
the new group. When a clinician adds his view to the
clinical findings on tooth mobility, he has the complete
diagnosis of the mobility of the tooth. Fig. 12 shows an
c2 example of complete diagnosis as given by the automatic
b M2 diagnosis system for assessing tooth mobility.
7 Conclusions
The paper has described how to determine objectively
tooth mobility by using modelling parameters c t , Cz and k,
which were calculated from mechanical mobility and their
discriminant scores. The M T figure makes it possible to
understand clinical tooth mobility of the periodontium by
visual interpretation. The new tooth mobility based on the
discriminant score and M T figure gives information on
both the clinical tooth mobility and also mechanical
mobility parameters which may have some relationship
with the underlying pathology.
The effect of tissue changes in periodontitis on the clini-
cal tooth mobility has been examined using a tooth model
experiment. Then the clinical significance of the modelling
parameters and the formative mechanism of the clinical
mobility was clarified. Finally, the possibility of automatic
diagnosis of tooth mobility by computer-aided curve-
fitting of mechanical mobility, discriminant score and MT-
figure has been described.
50

'T
E
I/I
O

o o
O %I
-
z 0
~
oo 0
-
z oO O

O
Z

:o-O o X X

r'l

0 ~ t I I I 0 i J i f 0 I I I !

0 4O o 40 0 800
-I -1 -I
Cl,NSm c1 , Nsm c2. Nsm

a c I and c 2 b c 1 ond k c c_ a n d k
Z
Fig. 11 Correlation of c 1, c 2 and k of 69 teeth 0 MO A M1 x M2 [] M3
8O Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing January 1989
 1987'10/18 (Sun)
U
.O
O
E
frequency
File name: a071018 Message : clinical mobility " M 0
Fig. 12 A complete diagnosis which is given by the automatic diagnosis system of tooth mobility
Acknowledgments--H. Oka wishes to thank Professor R. Suzuki
of Tokyo University for his helpful advice.
References
CARRANZA,F. A. (1984) Glickman's clinical periodontology. W. B.
Saunders Co., 283-284.
D'HOEDT, B., LUKAS, O., MOHLBRADT, L., SCHOLZ, F., SCHULTE,
W., QUANTE, F. and TOPKAYA, A. (1985) Das
Periotestverfahren-Entwicklung und klinische Prfifung. Dtsch
Zahn~rztl., Z-40, 113-125.
GRANT, D. A., STERN, I. B. and EVERETT,F. G. (1979) Periodontics
in the tradition of Orban and Gottlieb. The C. V. Mosby Co.,
475-477.
HALSTEAD,C. L., BLOZIS,G. G., DRINNAN,A. J. and GIER, R. E.
(1982) Physical evaluation of the dental patient. The C. V.
Mosby Co., 317-322.
MOHLEMANN, H. R. (1967) Tooth mobility: a review of clinical
aspects and research findings. J. Periodontol., 38, 686--713.
NOYES, D. H., CLARK, J. W. and WATSON,C. E. (1968) Mechani-
cal input impedance of human teeth in vivo. Med. & Biol. Eng.,
6, 487-492.
Authors' biographies
Hisao Oka was born in Hyogo, Japan, in
January 1954. He received BE and ME
degrees in Electrical Engineering from
Okayama University, Japan in 1976 and 1978,
respectively, and completed a DE degree in
Biomechanical Property Measurement at
Osaka University in 1988. He joined the
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Okayama University in 1978. He is currently
interested in measurements and applications of biomechanical
properties. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers
of Japan, the Japan Society of Medical Electronics & Biological
Engineering and the Institute of Electronics, Information &
Communication Engineers of Japan.
Keiji Saratani was born in Osaka, Japan, in
1954. He received his DDS degree from Osaka
Dental University, Japan, in 1980 and his
Ph.D. there in 1984. He joined the Second
Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Osaka
Dental University, in 1984. He is currently
interested in dynamic analysis of tooth-
supporting structures. He is a member of the
Japan Society of Medical Electronics & Bio-
logical Engineering and the Japan Prosthodontic Society.
M e d i c a l & Biological Engineering & C o m p u t i n g J a n u a r y 1989
[ parameters ] score ]
c, 26.604 z, 6.849
c2 421.236 z2 4.172
k 266439.0 z= 3.496
m, [g] 10.562 z, 1.997
m= 0.609
This tooth is M 0 '
CI C2
Mobility Triangle
NOYES, D. H. and SOLT, C. W. (1972) Relationship between
"tooth mobility" and "mechanical mobility of teeth", d. Perio-
dontol., 43, 301-303.
NO'd~s, D. H. and SOLT, C. W. (1973) Measurement of mechanical
mobility of human incisors with sinusoidal forces. J. Biomech.,
6, 439-442.
NOYE.S, D. H. and SOLT, C. W. (1977) Elastic response of the
temporo mandibular joint to very small forces. J. Periodontol.,
48, 98-100.
OKA, H. and YAMAMOTO,T. (1985) Measuring device for bio-
mechanical properties of human paradentium using impedance
head. Proc. XIV ICMBE and XII ICMP, Med. & Biol. Eng. of
Comput. Suppl., Part 2, 1275-1276.
OKA, H., YAMAMOTO,T. and OKUMtmA, Y. (1987) Measuring
device of biomechanical impedance for portable use. lnnov.
Tech. Biol. Med., 8, 1-11.
SCHLUGER,S., YUODEUS,R. A. and PAGE, R. C. (1977) Periodontal
disease--basic phenomena, clinical management, and occlusal
and restorative interrelationships. Lea & Febiger, 310-311.
VON KONm, M., LUKAS, D., QUANTE, F., SCHULTE, W. and
TOPKAVA, A. (1981) MeBverfahren zur quantitativen Beurteil:
ung de Schweregrades von Parodontopathien (Periotest).
Dtsch. Zahn?zrztl., Z---36, 451-454.
Tatsuma Yamamoto was born in Okayama,
Japan, on the 31st August 1927. He received
the BE degree in Electrical Engineering from
Himeji Technical College in 1953 and a Ph.D.
from Kyoto University in 1967. From 1953 to
1963 he was an instructor at the Himeji Tech-
nical College, then joined the Department of
Electrical Engineering, Okayama University,
in April 1963. He became a Professor of Elec-
trical Engineering in 1969. His research interests are electrical
and mechanical properties of biological substances, and their
measurements. Dr Yamamoto is a member of the Japan Society
of Medical Electronics & Biological Engineering and the Institute
of Electronics, Information & Communication Engineers of
Japan.
Takayoshi Kawazoe was born in Hyogo,
Japan, in January 1942. He received his DDS
degree from Osaka Dental University, Japan,
in 1966, and Ph.D. there in 1970. He has been
a Professor of the Second Department of
Prosthetic Dentistry, Osaka Dental Uni-
versity, since 1982. He is presently interested in
the diagnosis of occlusion and tempo-
romandibular joint disorders. He is a member
of the Japan Society of Medical Electronics & Biological Engin-
eering and the Japan Prosthodontic Society.
81