Knowledge and awareness of dental implants as a treatment choice in the adult population in North India: A hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: Implantology is an emerging field of science, although there are not many subjects who opt for this treatment modality. Replacement of missing or lost teeth with dental prostheses supported by oral implants has been accepted and received positive evaluations from patients who have undergone implant treatment. Today, implant-supported restorations can be considered the treatment of choice from the perspective of occlusal support, preservation of adjacent teeth, and avoidance of a removable partial denture. Currently, dental implants are widely accepted as a prosthetic treatment of completely or partially edentulous patients. This led to widespread acceptance and popularity of dental implants within the dental professional community. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and awareness of dental implants in residents of Uttarakhand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total population of 500 subjects were randomly selected and evaluated based on filled questionnaire responses. RESULTS: A low level of knowledge was observed on analyzing the filled responses among the studied population. CONCLUSION: General public should be made aware on dental implants as treatment modality along with the focus on increasing the cost feasibility.

Oral submucous fibrosis: Comparing clinical grading with duration and frequency of habit among areca nut and its products chewers.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of frequency, duration and type of areca nut products on the incidence and severity of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with the limited mouth opening and associated blanched oral mucosa with palpable fibrous bands were included in this study. Biopsies were done and the informed consent was taken from each patient included in this study. The tissues were taken from the affected areas and then studied histopathologically. The data was analysed statistically using X(2)-test. RESULTS: In this present prospective study done in 197 subjects (189 males and 8 females) who were screened and diagnosed clinically having OSMF with age ranging from 22 to 61 years with mean 38.8 years. Gutkha-chewing habit alone was identified in 58 subjects and those associated with gutkha and tobacco were 33 with mean age of 28.2 years and 32.3 years, respectively. The number of people getting affected with OSMF is more associated with gutkha and areca nut with the P-value of the analysis ranging from 0.05 to 0.01. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of OSMF is related to areca nut and its products. The duration and frequency of its use and type of areca nut product has effect on the incidence and severity of OSMF. Gutkha and pan masala have more deleterious and faster effects on oral mucosa. The gutkha-chewing habit along with the other habits does not have any significant effect on the rate of occurrence and incidence and severity of the OSMF.

Implant placement in the atrophic posterior maxilla with sinus elevation without bone grafting: a 2-year prospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in alveolar bone height after direct sinus elevation and simultaneous implant placement in the posterior edentulous maxilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective clinical study was conducted of patients undergoing sinus elevation for implant placement in the posterior maxilla to replace missing teeth. Residual alveolar bone height was between 4 and 7.5 mm. Lateral osteotomy of the maxillary sinus, followed by simultaneous implant placement without bone grafting, was performed under local anesthesia. Prosthetic restoration was completed 9 months later. The changes in alveolar bone height at the sinus floor were assessed radiographically after 1 week and 6, 9, 18, and 28 months after implant placement. Probing depths, implant mobility, and crestal bone loss were assessed at the same intervals. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (17 women and 11 men) participated in the study. Forty-five implants were placed and followed after prosthetic rehabilitation. At 18 months after loading of the implants, alveolar bone height in the area of sinus elevation ranged from 7.40 to 11.55 mm. Increases in alveolar bone height at the sinus floor ranged from 2.05 to 5.40 mm at a minimum of 18 months after loading, a statistically significant gain. Crestal bone loss and changes in probing depths were not significant in any patients, and all implants remained clinically stable. The implant success rate was 100% without any complications after 18 to 28 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Placement of endosseous implants in the atrophic posterior maxilla in conjunction with sinus elevation without bone grafting resulted in a significant amount of bone formation around the implants at the sinus floor, resulting in successful restorations and eliminating the need for bone grafting.

Dentigerous cysts in four quadrants: a rare and first reported case.

The dentigerous cyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst which usually occurs in the second and third decade of life. Dentigerous cyst is one of the most prevalent types of odontogenic cysts associated with partially erupted, developing, or impacted teeth. The mandibular third molars have a high predictability followed by maxillary canines. Occurrence of dentigerous cyst bilaterally is generally observed in syndromic cases. Non-syndromic dentigerous cyst occurring bilaterally or involving both arches at the same time is very rare. This presented case is rare and unique in which all four quadrants shows the presence of dentigerous cyst. In this case there are well-defined cysts associated with impacted molars as well as with supernumerary teeth in all the four quadrants of jaws. The clinical documentation of such a case in available literature is found to be first time.

Peripheral neurectomies: A treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia in rural practice.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is a commonly diagnosed neurosensory disease of head, neck and face region, involving 5(th) cranial nerve. Carbamazepine is the first line drug if there is decrease in efficacy or tolerability of medication, surgery needs to be considered. Factors such as pain relief, recurrence rates, morbidity and mortality rates should be taken in to account while considering which technique to use. Peripheral neurectomy is a safe and effective procedure for elderly patients and in rural and remote centers where neurosurgical facilities are not available. It is also effective in those patients who are reluctant for major neurosurgical procedures. Although loss of sensation along the branches of trigeminal nerve and recurrence rate are associated with peripheral neurectomy, we consider it as the safe and effective procedure in rural practice, which can be done under local anesthesia. AIMS: The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the long term efficacy of peripheral neurectomy with and without the placement of stainless steel screws in the foramina and to calculate the mean remission period after peripheral neurectomies for different branches of trigeminal nerve. SETTING AND DESIGN: The sample was divided into 2 groups by selecting randomly the patients, satisfying inclusion criteria. Both groups were operated under local anesthesia by regional nerve blocks. In one group of patients after peripheral neurectomy, the proximal nerve stump was left alone in the foramina, and in another group of patients, obturation of foramina was done with stainless steel screws after peripheral neurectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral neurectomy was done on the terminal branches of trigeminal nerve in 14 patients. We selected only those cases that were experiencing pain after Carbamazepine therapy, all our patients were from rural and remote areas where facilities to neurosurgical centers are limited. Elderly patients who were unfit for surgical procedures and those patients who were reluctant for major neurosurgical treatments were considered for the study. RESULTS: Post-surgical pain relief varied from 15 months to 24 months in cases where neurectomy was done without placing stainless steel screws in the foramina. Those cases where peripheral neurectomy was done along with the placement of stainless steel screws in the foramina, none of the patient had painful symptoms even after minimum 2 years of follow-up. Student's `t`-test of 2 groups showed the remission period to be statistically highly significant in patients with stainless steel screw obturation, having P-value <0.0005.Obturating the foramen with stainless steel screws can prevent nerve regeneration. Thus, remission of pain can be prolonged. CONCLUSION: Peripheral neurectomy is thus a safe and effective procedure for elderly patients, for those patients living in remote and rural places that cannot avail major neurosurgical facilities, and for those patients who are reluctant for major neurosurgical procedures.