Restructuring an undergraduate dental curriculum to global standards--a case study in an Indian dental school.

Globalisation has affected all aspects of life and dentistry is no exception. In the context of today's dentist being a global citizen, undergraduate training in dentistry is set to ensure converging standards so that international recognition of dental qualifications can move forward. The decision of the Dental Council of India to expand the undergraduate dental program to five years provides an opportunity to be part of the endeavor of the Global Dental Congress to achieve converging standards which was initially for the European Union, and now spreading out globally. Economic emergence in Indian subcontinent has resulted in growing oral health care needs both in quality and quantity. To address this issue, the graduating dentist needs to be trained following a competency based curricular model. Access to Internet facilitated the goal of achieving converging standards of dental schools to be feasible because of the instant communication and capacity to share information about training strategies via technology across the globe. Upgrading the undergraduate training to global standards by dental schools in India could be a wise and strategic move both for attracting students to study in India, as well as retaining the graduates after their training. The following is a case study of an Indian dental school set to restructure the undergraduate curriculum to global standards using the 8 steps of Kotter's transformational change. Change in curriculum and the subsequent accreditation of the school in global platform not only attracts prospective students but also results in producing competent dentists. Dental education provided by the institution can result in quality assurance, benchmarking the assessment system to achieve international recognition. This paper highlights the need and importance of facilitation of international convergence with long term aspirations for mutual recognition of international degrees.

Assessment of primary stability of the implant placed in prepared infected extraction sockets.

BACKGROUND: Dental conditions like periodontal, periapical pathologies and failed endodontically treated teeth are one of the commonest reasons for tooth removal. These conditions also contraindicate replacement of such teeth with immediate implant procedures. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological fate of immediately placed dental implants in debrided infected dentoalveolar sockets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 implants were immediately placed into prepared infected sockets. The pathology at the receptacle sockets included subacute periodontal infection, perio-endo infection, chronic periapical infection, periodontal cyst and traumatic infected teeth. The treatment protocol emphasized on meticulous debridement of the infected sockets under pre- and post-surgical antibiotic therapy. Follow up of at least 24 months was done to evaluate the survival of implants. RESULTS: At the end of follow up time period of 24 months, all 24 implants were stable with no signs of clinical mobility and infection. However, on radiological examination, crestal bone loss was observed during the osseointegration periods which settled at the level of first thread. CONCLUSION: Survival of immediately placed implants in infected sockets is predictable and depends on the meticulous debridement of dentoalveolar sockets along with adequate pre- and post-operative antibiotic coverage.

Regional metastasis in polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma. Report of a case.

A case of cervical lymph node metastases of polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma is reported, originating from a minor salivary gland in the soft palate in a 76-year-old man, 19 years after initial presentation. The clinical course, histopathology, and literature review on the metastatic aspect of the tumour are presented. This has emphasized the need for increased awareness of this recently described tumour and the need for lifelong follow up.

Proteus syndrome. A case report of a hamartomatous syndrome with severe mandibular hemihypertrophy.

Proteus syndrome is a rare congenital hamartomatous malformation that is characterized by a wide range of deformities, including craniofacial deformities. Skin and skeletal developmental malformations are common and may assume tremendous proportions. The syndrome is often mistaken for other, more commonly recognized conditions, including neurofibromatosis. The soft-tissue masses in Proteus syndrome are not nerve tumors but are usually hamartomatous proliferations. The case report describes its varied manifestations, which include significant craniofacial dysmorphism, and discusses the differential diagnosis and management.

Anterior Segmental Distraction Osteogenesis in the Hypoplastic Cleft Maxilla: Report of five cases.

Orthognathic surgery and distraction osteogenesis play a prime role in the correction of maxillary hypoplasia in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Advancement of the anterior maxilla alone without interfering with the velopharyngeal sphincter may be advantageous in cleft patients, who more commonly have speech deficits and dental crowding. We present a case series of anterior maxillary segmental distraction for maxillary hypoplasia in 5 CLP patients with a one-year follow-up. A custom-made tooth-borne distraction device with a hyrax screw positioned anteroposteriorly was used. The evaluation comprised of hard and soft tissue analysis and speech assessment. A stable occlusion with positive overjet and correction of dental-crowding without extraction was achieved at one year post-distraction. Facial profile and lip support improved. There was no deterioration in speech.

Immediate postexpansion changes following the use of the transpalatal distractor.

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the immediate postexpansion positional changes of the maxillary halves resulting from the use of the transpalatal distractor (Surgi-Tec NV, Bruges, Belgium). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Corticotomies were performed in the same way as surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion, all from a buccal sulcus approach. Titanium abutment plates with box extension were placed horizontally in the vertical wall of the palatal vault overlying the second premolar root through a mucoperiosteal incision and fixed with titanium screws 5 mm in length. An appropriate telescopic distraction module was fitted in the slots of the boxes. Expansion started 1 week after surgery, at a rate of 0.33 mm/d. Digital measurements on digital photographs of the models were obtained from 20 postadolescent patients before and immediately after transpalatal distraction. The distractor was placed at the level of the second premolar. Pterygomaxillary separation was not performed. Changes in the intercanine, interpremolar and intermolar width, in the dental arch perimeter, and in the premolar and molar angulations in the frontal plane were analyzed and correlated. RESULTS: Width expansions of 35.7%, 31.7%, and 22.7% were noted in the canine, premolar, and molar regions, respectively. There was a mean increase of the arch perimeter of 10.5%, which correlated well (P <.001) with the expansion at the canine and premolar level. The mean angulation changes in the frontal plane of the premolar and molar segments were minimal, -8.3 degrees +/- 9.6 degrees and 0.9 degrees +/- 9.9 degrees, respectively. The change in angulation at the molar level correlated (P <.005) with the amount of expansion in that region. Premolar angulation did not correlate with the expansion, and segment angulation did not correlate with age. CONCLUSIONS: The expansion at the canine level was 1.5 times greater than at the molar level (corrected value relative to the original intermolar width). The change in arch perimeter can be predicted from the expansion at the canine and premolar level. Expansion in the frontal plane occurs with little tipping of the segments.