Evaluation of diode laser along with 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel on dentinal tubule occlusion: An in vitro study.

CONTEXT: Several studies have recommended the use of lasers in treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. These materials have been used alone or in combination with an active desensitizing agent. AIMS: The present study aimed to evaluate the use of 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel and 810 nm diode laser when used alone and when used together on exposed dentinal tubules. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Sixty-one extracted teeth were sectioned with a diamond saw and dentin slices were prepared. They were then treated with 37% orthophosphoric acid to remove the smear layer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One of the 61 sections was left as an untreated control, whereas the remaining sixty sections were divided into three groups of twenty sections each. The first set of sections (Group 1) was treated with laser alone, whereas the second set (Group 2) was treated with APF alone. A third set of sections (Group 3) was treated with a combination of laser and APF. The sectioned teeth were then evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the percentage of dentinal tubule occlusion was observed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Shapiro-Wilk normality test was performed to check for the normal distribution of data, whereas the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the mean percentage of dentinal tubule occlusion between the three groups. The Chi-square test was used to compare the number of images with complete tubular occlusion between the three groups. RESULTS: A total of 96 images were processed from the sixty sectioned samples. It was seen that the sections in Group 3 showed the highest percentage of dentinal tubule occlusion. Group 3 also showed the highest number of samples with complete dentinal tubule occlusion. Significantly lesser levels of dentinal tubule occlusion were seen in Groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: Diode lasers were effective in occluding dentinal tubules. The addition of 1.23% APF significantly increased the efficacy and thoroughness of dentinal tubule occlusion. Significantly lesser levels of dentinal tubule occlusion were seen in the sections treated with laser alone and APF alone.

Assessment of epithelial-mesenchymal transition signatures in oral submucous fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the concept of field cancerization has questioned the accuracy of biopsy site selection clinically. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) has a global malignant transformation rate of 7.6% despite having less dysplastic changes clinically or histologically. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of vimentin, epithelial-cadherin (E-Cad) and collagen IV in OSMF, using immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eighty- five patients with OSMF (61), with habits and no OSMF (61) and patients without habit and OSMF (63) were subjected to biopsy for sample collection. The samples were analyzed immunohistochemically for vimentin, E-Cad and collagen IV. The PCR values for vimentin and E-Cad were also done. RESULTS: Vimentin expression was increased in OSMF patients, whereas E-Cad expression was decreased in OSMF patients. CONCLUSION: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition signatures are definitely positive in OSMF cases.

Proliferative endophytic lesion of the maxilla: A diagnostic challenge.

Carcinoma cuniculatum (CC) is an extremely rare neoplasm of the oral cavity. It is essentially a well-differentiated variety of squamous cell carcinoma and shows lower metastasis risk. The histological features of CC can mimic that of papillary squamous cell carcinoma or verrucous carcinoma. CC commonly affects the plantar region of the foot, and very few cases have been described in the oral cavity. The classical histological characteristics noted are infiltration of underlying connective tissue by squamous epithelium with keratin cores and keratin-filled crypts. Herewith, we present a case of CC of the right maxilla in a young Dravidian male patient who works in a battery factory. The case presented a diagnostic challenge both clinically and histopathologically before it was completely resected using a total maxillectomy technique. The case delineates the diagnostic challenge and management of the disease.

No evidence for Helicobacter pylori in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVES: Oral lichen planus is a T-cell-mediated mucosal disease of unknown etiology. Numerous predisposing factors have been put forward in the etiology of this disease. This includes stress, drugs, genetic susceptibility, certain viruses, and bacterial infections. Recently, there have been studies published on possible role of Helicobacter pylori infection in pathogenesis of mucocutaneous diseases including oral lichen planus (OLP). The aim of this study was to detect immunohistochemically the presence of Helicobacter pylori in oral lichen planus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 50 cases of OLP and 10 cases of normal buccal mucosal biopsies and 6 endoscopic biopsies of patients with peptic ulcer (control group) were sectioned and stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Serial sections of same were stained immunohistochemically using Anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody and observed under microscope for presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori. RESULTS: Except for the control group, none of the cases of OLP and normal buccal mucosal biopsies showed positivity for Helicobacter pylori. CONCLUSION: As we did not detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in any of the OLP cases, we question the role of these organisms in the pathogenesis of OLP planus if any.

To err is human: Quality management practices in surgical oral pathology, a safety net for medico-legal complications.

Reading a slide and rendering a diagnosis is not only a science but also requires us to appreciate the constant artifact that is introduced in a controlled manner by tissue processing and obtaining a stained tissue section. There are a number of steps involved in getting the final stained tissue section and all these procedures if not performed properly have the potential to give rise to erroneous picture on the slide. Simple errors in judgments can lead to wrong diagnosis and unwarranted treatment. Such mistakes can put us at risk for Medico-Legal problems. The subject of Medico-Legal issues and practice of pathology has been neglected and amount of information available to the practicing professional in India is scarce. This paper focuses on standardized procedures for the various histopathology laboratory exercises. The paper highlights the importance of proper record maintenance with reporting protocols. A list of do's and don'ts for an Oral Pathologist is provided to help him/her in reducing the probable Medico-Legal issues. It does not in any way address the issue of individual competence and diagnostic abilities: That is an aspect for each individual to introspect upon and take remedial action.

Bone regeneration with plasma-rich-protein following enucleation of traumatic bone cyst.

Traumatic bone cyst is an uncommon non-epithelium lined cavity and is seen frequently in young individuals. The lesion occurs more commonly in the mandible, involving the posterior region. It is generally asymptomatic and is diagnosed on routine radiographic examination. The cystic cavity is usually empty and there is scanty material for histological examination. Surgical curettage is usually done and recurrence is rare. A case of traumatic bone cyst occurring in the anterior region of mandible in a young boy is presented. Following surgical intervention, plasma-rich-protein was placed in the cystic cavity. The lesion showed progressive resolution and bone regeneration of the cystic cavity within a short period of time.