Is there any difference in the development of mandibular third molars according to the type of impaction: An orthopantomographic study in south Indian children and adolescents.

Development of third molars and their influence on the dental arch is a major concern in clinical dentistry especially, orthodontics and oral surgery. Lately, their position, eruption potential and development has become a subject of interest in forensic practice. The present study was aimed to determine whether if there is any difference in the development of the mandibular third molars according to the impaction type. Orthopantomographs (n = 1112) from 478 males and 634 females between 15 and 22 years old were analysed. In each radiograph, impaction status and the developmental stage of mandibular third molars were determined. Descriptive statistics were performed at developmental stages D to H. For stage G, there was a delay by 0.74 and 0.62 years for mesioangular impaction, 0.89 and 0.33 years for horizontal impaction, 1.43 and 0.9 years for distoangular impaction and 1.74 and 1.1 years for vertical impaction, in males and females. For stage H, delay by 0.17 and 0.74 years, 0.05 and 0.06 years, 0.48 and 1.48 years and 0.62 and 0.62 years, respectively for all impaction variants in both sexes. Mean chronological age of the distoangular and vertically impacted mandibular third molars were higher in certain developmental stages than mesioangular and horizontal impactions. Our findings concluded that distoangular and vertical impaction variants mineralize more slowly than mesioangular and horizontal variants, however these differences were smaller. Therefore, no distinction is required between impaction types for dental age estimation especially in the prediction of the age of majority (18 years).

Above or below 14 years? An orthopantomographic study based on chronological course of eruption of mandibular premolars and second molars in a sample of south Indian children.

In the context of dental age assessment, two significant factors can be studied; tooth mineralisation and tooth emergence. Little is known about the role of a second molar eruption in forensic age estimation. This paper aims to contribute to forensic age estimation using an age threshold of 14 years, studying the eruption stages of permanent mandibular premolars and second molars. Totally 640 orthopantomograms (OPGs) of south Indian children, aged between 10 and 18 years, were evaluated using Olze et al. staging of tooth eruption stages (A-D). Spearman's rho correlation showed a strong, positive, and statistically significant correlation between the chronological age and the eruption stages of both sexes' teeth. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and post-test probability values were calculated for all tested teeth. The best performance to discriminate individuals above or below 14 years showed stage D in second molars. The sensitivity varied between 89% and 94% and specificity between 75% and 84%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed high diagnostic performance for stage D, with area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of 84% and 85% for tooth 37 and 85% and 83% for tooth 47 in males and females, respectively. In conclusion, it is possible to predict age over 14 years in south Indian children using tooth emergence stages from OPGs with a relatively high interobserver agreement and good diagnostic accuracy. However, there are some limitations and, therefore, must be used in conjunction with other methods.

Low-Level Laser Therapy and Topical Medications for Treating Aphthous Ulcers: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The study compares low-level laser therapy with topical medications for treating aphthous ulcers. METHODS: A search of articles in this systematic review was completed in six databases. Treatment and comparative groups comprised of patients subjected to laser therapy and topical medications, respectively. Two different treatment outcomes were considered; pain and size of the lesion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. RESULTS: From 109 articles, five randomized control trials fulfilled the selection criteria. The overall sample comprised of 98 males and 232 females, with a mean age of 32.4 years. The laser therapies in each included study had different active media and varying wavelengths. Topical medication used in the comparative group were triamcinolone acetonide, amlexanox, granofurin, and solcoseryl. Findings showed that patients who reported lower pain and decreased aphthous ulcer lesions were more in the laser therapy group than in the topical medication group. CONCLUSION: Low-level laser therapy was better in treating aphthous ulcer lesions in comparison to topical medications, and all laser wavelengths in the included reports were seen to be effective. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, because no study demonstrated low-risk of bias in all the assessed domains.

Awareness of COVID 19 pandemic among dental practioners of Telangana state, India: A cross sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern. The dental professionals are considered to be at high risk, as most of the treatments may lead to the spread of infection due to direct proximity with saliva, blood and aerosols generation. AIM: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the awareness, regarding COVID19 pandemic among dental practioners in state of Telangana. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A self-administered, structured, pilot-tested close-ended 20 point questionnaire,was distributed among the dental practioners in Telangana state. A total of 385 participants completed the questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for data analysis. RESULTS: Among 385 participants a total of 115 (29.9%) exhibited high level of knowledge while 167 (43.4%) demonstrated moderate knowledge and 103 (26.8%) demonstrated low level of knowledge. Mean knowledge score was 12.46 ± 2.47, minimum and maximum scores were 5 and 15 respectively among the dental practioners (DPs). CONCLUSION: All the respondents seem to have adequate knowledge regarding COVID19 and adoption of control measures to prevent the spread of COVID19. However, some deficiencies were noted. The, dentists, must be well informed of the recommended practices.Initiatives for attending webinars, continuing dental education programs on COVID19, have to be undertaken to keep them selves updated and be prepared with extra precautionary measures to be taken.

Examination of the radiographic visibility of the root pulp of the mandibular second molars as an age marker.

Forensic odontologists often confront with conceptually simple medicolegal question of whether an individual is a juvenile or an adult. The demand for additional research into extending dental age estimation methods in late adolescence is never the less, especially in those who have passed 15 years and are suspected older than 18 years. The present research investigated the regressive dental characteristic, i.e. radiographic visibility of the root pulp in mandibular second molars for the purpose of age assessment, especially for determining the age over 18 years. Nine hundred thirty-six orthopantomograms comprised of 436 males and 500 females aged from 14 to 22 years were examined. Descriptive statistics were performed for each stage in both sexes. The correlation statistics revealed that there is a strong, positive correlation between the chronological age and root pulp visibility stages. The analysis revealed that stage 0 occurred first at the age of 14 years in both sexes. Stage 1 first occurred at the age of 14.26 years in females and 14.74 years in males. Stage 2 was first achieved at the age of 18.6 and 15.2 years in males and females, respectively. The suitability of the studied characteristics in mandibular second molars for age estimation could be confirmed but of limited value. The presence of this stage 2 root pulp visibility in male subjects represents a potential criterion for indicating the age over 18 years. In future studies, the pattern of secondary dentin formation in other tooth types should be investigated.

Bio Electro Magnetic Energy Regulation (BEMER) therapy in myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is of the commonest form of orofacial pain encountered in the clinics. Though, many therapies have been suggested in the recent past, still the management of this condition remains a therapeutic problem. The search for newer, relatively safe and effective long term approach lead to the use of magnetic stimulation in pain modulation. Bio Electro Magnetic Energy Regulation is one such modality that has been studied in the musculoskeletal disorders. However, no studies in this regard have been explored in orofacial region. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of BEMER therapy as an adjuvant to relieve pain in myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present randomized comparative study was on 40 patients who were diagnosed with Myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome(MPDS). They were grouped into two groups of 20 each. Group 1 patients were administered analgesic + muscle relaxants & Group 2 was receiving both analgesic + muscle relaxants with BEMER therapy. All the patients were evaluated for pain relief on visual analog scale (VAS) and the mouth opening (MO)was measured using digital vernier callipers. RESULTS: The group 2 showed a significant improvement in the symptoms even after 2 months follow up. In group 2 the mean mouth opening was 45.60 ± 3.648(P < 0.05) and 45.50 ± 3.663(P < 0.05); the Mean VAS Score was 3.10 ± 0.912 and 2.90 ± 0.968(P < 0.05) after one month and after two months respectively. The independent t-test, was used for inferential statistics. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from this study that Combined therapy proved to be more effective in providing long term symptomatic relief compared to conventional pharmacological therapy. BEMER as an adjuvant therapeutic modality proved to be beneficial in the management of MPDS.

Plexiform neurofibromatosis involving face and oral cavity.

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) are one of the most common and debilitating complications of neurofibromatosis type I (NF-I). They account for substantial morbidity, disfigurement, functional impairment and are life threatening. PNFs can also be subjected to transformation into malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). This complication is refractory to treat due to paucity of effective therapies for malignant soft tissue sarcomas in general and also the delay in diagnosis from a preexisting tumor. We report a case of PNF of face involving oral cavity with literature review.