Stabilization splints are often used to treat musculoskeletal disorders of temporomandibular joints. Historically, the centric relation is advocated as the reference position for a stabilization splint. Centric relation as the reference position is subject of discussion, since this position has been defined for a healthy stomatognathic system. In case of temporomandibular disorders, the temporomandibular joints and muscles are compromised. Apart from degenerative changes in all components of the temporomandibular joints, the presence of pain may influence the establishment of a therapeutic position. In this article the biological plausibility of the centric relation as a reference position in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders, is discussed. It is advocated to maintain the existing occlusion.

This article is primarily an adapted translation in Dutch of an editorial paper in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. The editorial paper describes the vision of the new editorial board to develop a broader perspective instead of a fixation with teeth. The journal offers an unique multidisciplinary forum with a broad scope to deal with quests for knowledge. Second part of this article is a comment on the editorial paper. It is concluded that the fixation with teeth is caused by the education of the dentist and by the history of dentistry in The Netherlands. In order to find a solution , the development of a team of oral health care providers is once again proposed.

In 1979 a thesis on orthognathic surgery was published. Progress of research concerning the surgical orthodontic treatment of dento-facial deformities is discussed with emphasis on the stability of the results, the behavior of the tongue, the temporomandibular joint and the psycho-social aspects. Also some aspects of distraction osteogenesis are mentioned.

An 8-year old boy was referred to the orthodontic department because of a fused tooth. The clinical and radiological examination showed that - besides the double tooth at the region of the 21 - there was a normal tooth 22 in eruption as well. Moreover a still impacted supernumerary tooth was present in the right upper front region. The treatment included the extraction of the fused tooth and an autotransplantation of the supernumerary tooth to the extraction site of the fused tooth. During the follow-up period the pulp showed a progressive obliteration starting at the crown level with a conservation of the vitality. Apexification of the root of the transplanted tooth proceeded successfully. Furthermore a review of the literature is given in this article on the aetiology and treatment of fused teeth and on the application of autotransplantation.

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is characterised by skeletal anomalies, cutaneous basal cell carcinomas and multiple keratocysts. NBCCS is an autosomal dominant disorder, but can have a variable phenotypic penetration. NBCCS can also arise spontaneously. The prevalence is 1:60.000 and 50-65% of patients with NBCCS have affected family members. A recently diagnosed patient is presented and the manifestations of the syndrome are discussed.

Buying books on internet is one of the first successful applications of internet shopping. The on-line comparison of prices on the bookmarket of medical literature can be very lucrative. This article presents an overview of two websites specialized in medical books will be given. MediBoek.nl is a comparative search engine on prices of medical books and Geneeskundeboek.nl is a specialized medical on-line bookshop for the whole medical field.