Age Estimation Using the Tooth Coronal Index on Mandibular First Premolars on Digital Panoramic Radiographs in an Indian Population.

Objectives: Age estimation is a crucial aspect of forensic odontology, and the Tooth Coronal Index (TCI) has been widely used for forensic purposes in determining age. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of TCI in age estimation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, and TCI was calculated for the mandibular first premolar in 700 digital panoramic radiographs. Age was divided into five groups: 20-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, 51-60 years, and >61 years. Bivariate correlation was used to establish the relationship between TCI and age. Linear regression was calculated for the different age groups and genders. Inter-observer reliability and agreement were assessed using one-way ANOVA. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Comparison of the mean difference from actual age showed underestimation in males aged 20-30 years and overestimation in males over 60 years of age. The least difference between actual and calculated age was found in females aged 31-40 years. Inter-age comparison using ANOVA for females demonstrated a statistically highly significant difference from actual age in all age groups (P<0.01), with the highest mean in females aged 51-60 years and the lowest in females aged 31-40 years. Inter-group comparison of mean TCI revealed statistically non-significant differences in males and statistically highly significant differences in females (P<0.01). Conclusion: Age estimation using TCI on mandibular first premolars can be recommended as an easy, non-invasive, and less time-consuming method. This study suggests that regression formulas were more accurate for males aged 31-40 years.

Epithelial Atrophy, Fibrosis and Vascularity Correlation with Epithelial Dysplasia in Oral Submucous Fibrosis, a Prospective Study.

Background: The pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) still remains conflicting and has been linked to alterations in epithelial thickness, fibrosis, and vascularity. Although changes in these individual parameters have been extensively studied in relation to epithelial dysplasia their combined relation with dysplasia has not been studied much. Any such relation, if present, may further help in understanding this disease process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between epithelial thickness, fibrosis, and vascularity with dysplasia in OSF. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of 30 OSF patients. Incisional biopsy was taken from the most fibrosed area of the buccal mucosa. Hematoxylin-Eosin-stained slides were assessed for epithelial thickness, fibrosis, and vascularity using image analysis software. The slides were also assessed for epithelial dysplasia. Relationship of epithelial atrophy, fibrosis, and vascularity with dysplasia was assessed using one-way ANOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used for evaluating the relationship between epithelial thickness, fibrosis, and vascularity. Results: Epithelial dysplasia was found in all patients. Eleven patients had mild (36. 67%), thirteen had moderate (43.33%), and six had severe (20%) dysplasia. None of the parameters were found to have a significant relationship with dysplasia. However, moderate and positive correlation was found between epithelial thickness and fibrosis. This relation was statistically significant. Conclusion: Positive correlation between epithelial thickness and fibrosis in present study therefore contradicts the hypothesis of fibrosis induced epithelial atrophy. As dysplasia is influenced by multiple factors therefore habits and burning sensation needs to be incorporated in future studies assessing dysplasia in OSF.

Oral submucous fibrosis and its impact on psychological stress: a case-control study.

Our aim was to evaluate the impact of OSF on psychological stress. Ninety OSF cases and age and sex-matched controls, enrolled from relatives or accompanying person were included in the study. Psychological stress was evaluated by the Psychological General Well Being Index short version (PGWBI-S). Sets of the psychological component were generated by principal component analysis (PCA). Association between components was accommodated for confounder and interaction was evaluated by conditional stepwise logistic regression analysis. Psychological component generated was component 1 (depressed mood, lack of positive well being, low vitality, anxiety, low vitality, and low self-control). The odds ratio (OR) of low score of component 1 for OSF was 3.66. Depressed mood, lack of positive well being, low vitality, anxiety, low vitality, and low self-control were associated with OSF. Psychological intervention should, therefore, be included in the management of OSF.

The prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma with oral submucous fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) in patients with OSF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 48,757 patients, we found 300 OSF subjects. Three hundred patients of OSF were checked for OSCC. Both OSF and OSCC with OSF (OSCCwOSF) were diagnosed histopathologically. The prevalence of OSCCwOSF was calculated. Descriptive analysis was done. Chi-square test and t-test were calculated for proportions and mean, respectively, to check any difference among OSF and OSCCwOSF groups. Age-specific relative risk was calculated in OSF and OSCCwOSF groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was done among odd ratios of the different variable between OSF and OSCCwOSF groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of OSCCwOSF among OSF was 13.7% over a period of 1 year. The mean age of OSCCwOSF group was 43.95 ± 10.22 years in comparison to the OSF group that was 35.51 ± 11.26 years (P < 0.00). The mean habit duration was significantly less in the OSF group when compared to OSCCwOSFgroup for mishri (P = 0.002). Age-specific adjusted relative risk of OSCC in OSF patient increases from 0.33 (18-34 years) to 3.86 (≥65 years). CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that a 13.7% prevalence rate of OSCCwOSF in OSF patients should alert the clinician. Clinicians should, therefore, anticipate OSSC in OSF patients. This awareness could lead to the early diagnosis and management of such OSCC.

Atypical extragingival occurrence of lobular capillary hemangioma: A report of two cases.

Capillary hemangiomas and pyogenic granuloma (PG) are well-recognized benign entities of the oral cavity which are vascular in origin. PG is said to have a predilection for gingival area, whereas capillary hemangioma involves the lips, cheek, and tongue. They may mimic more serious conditions such as malignancies making the clinical diagnosis quite challenging. There have been cases reported where PG was found on extra-gingival sites such as the palate, lips, and tongue. We present the two cases of lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) on extragingival sites, namely the palate and buccal mucosa, which manifested as a different lesion clinically and histopathological examination was indicative of LCH. The cases reported here show that relatively common pathologies can present on rare or atypical regions inside the oral cavity, and hence, it is imperative for the clinician to consider such lesions while formulating a diagnosis.

Assessment of the dimensions of the pterygoid hamulus for establishing age- and sex-specific reference standards using cone-beam computed tomography.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to establish age- and sex-specific reference standards for pterygoid hamulus (PH) dimensions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scans of 1,000 patients (493 males and 507 females) were retrospectively assessed in coronal sections for length and width measurements of the PH by 3 investigators. The study data were divided into 3 age groups (group 1: <20 years, group 2: 20-50 years, group 3: >50 years). Length and width were compared using one-way analysis of variance and the t-test for age and sex, respectively. RESULTS: The length of the PH on the right side significantly increased from group 1 (6.11±1.47 mm), through group 2 (6.65±1.67 mm) to group 3 (6.99±1.79 mm) and on the left side from group 2 (6.58±1.63) to group 3 (6.98±1.70). The width of the PH significantly decreased from group 1 (1.81±0.39 mm) to group 2 (1.61±0.39 mm) on the right side, and similarly from 1.87±0.36 mm to 1.67±0.37 mm on the left side. PH length (7.18±1.81 mm on the right side and 7.10±1.72 mm on the left side) and width (1.68±0.38 mm on the right side and 1.74±0.36 mm on the left side) were significantly greater in males than in females. CONCLUSION: The length of the PH increased with age, whereas width first decreased and then increased. Length and width measurements were significantly higher in males than in females. These findings will aid in the diagnosis of untraceable pain in the oropharyngeal region related to altered PH morphology.