It is the primary aim of this international journal to be a multidisciplinary forum for publications from all fields of oral medicine. Especially it is intended to create a connection between basic and clinical sciences and thus promote the exchange of information and the advancement of oral medicine for the benefit of patients. Clinical Oral Investigations publishes original scientific articles and invited reviews which provide an international readership with up-to-date results of basic and clinical studies in the field of oral and maxillofacial science and medicine and to clarify the relevance of these results for a modern practice. Covered topics are: Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Prosthetics and Restorative Dentistry Operative Dentistry Endodontics Periodontology Orthodontics Dental Materials Science Clinical Trials Epidemiology Pedodontics Oral Implant Preventive Dentistiry Oral Pathology Oral Basic Sciences. The submission of Case Reports is generally discouraged. Reports of animal experiments must state that the "Principles of laboratory animal care" (NIH publication No. 86-23 revised 1985) were followed as well as specific national laws (e.g. the current version of the German Law on the Protection of Animals) where applicable. The editor reserves the right to reject manuscripts that do not comply with the above-mentioned requirements. The author will be held responsible for false statements or for failure to fulfill the above-mentioned requirements.