Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the association between serum albumin and chronic periodontitis in elderly individuals. Methodology: Sixty systemically healthy subjects in the age group of fifty and above were included in the study. They were divided as control and experimental groups of 30 each . Plaque index, Gingival index, Probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss were recorded. The biochemical parameter serum albumin was correlated with periodontal status. Results: In experimental group serum albumin concentration ranged from 2.2 to 3.6g/dl with mean of 3.24 and found that sites of attachment loss 6mms and above had lower serum albumin level.It was inferred that sites 6mms loss of attachment had significant effect on serum albumin concentration. Conclusion: The mean serum albumin levels were significantly lower in subjects with 6mm and above of clinical attachment loss as compared to controls. It was concluded that there is an association between serum albumin and chronic periodontitis. However further longtitudinal and well controlled studies are required to evaluate the serum albumin and periodontal disease.

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Background: Attempts were made in the past to utilize morphological difference in teeth & canine index for sex determination in forensic dental sciences. An established fact of dental morphology is that the tooth dimensions are more in males as compared to females. But the results of canine index studies were controversial. Materials and methods: The present study was performed on healthy males and 30 healthy females of Loni region. Impressions were taken with alginate and study models were prepared. Mesiodistal width of the maxillary and mandibular canine was measured and intercanine distance was measured using vernier calliper. Results: The present study shows more mean values of mandibular canine index in female group (0.23±0.03- right canine index, 0.22±0.02- left canine index) than male group (0.22±0.26- right canine index, 0.20±0.24 left canine index) that is reverse dimorphism. But maxillary canine index shows more mean value in male group (0.21±0.17- right canine index, 0.20±0.16- left canine index) than female group (0.20±0.02- right canine index, 0.19±0.01- left canine index). Conclusion: Canines are favoured as ideal teeth to study because durability of canine is more than other teeth. Canine index can be used as a tool in sex identification, which is important for forensic purpose.

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Traumatic ulcerative granuloma with stromal eosinophilia (TUGSE) is a benign self-limiting oral ulcerative lesion which mimics malignant lesion clinically. It shows a distinct histopathology characterized by a granulomatous reaction with the presence of large mononuclear infiltrate with stromal eosinophilia. A case report of Traumatic ulcerative granuloma with stromal eosinophilia and differential diagnosis of the lesion is discussed.

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Background: The discovery of antibiotics marked a watershed in the treatment of infections. But the inappropriate use of antibiotics has contributed to the worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance. Information on the knowledge, understanding and use of antibiotics by dental practitioners is scarce. This study assessed the antibiotic prescription patterns of dental practitioners in Kerala state , India . Information was collected via a questionnaire distributed to the participants of 43rd Kerala State Dental Conference at Manjeri, Kerala, India. The geographical distribution of the dentists who participated in this questionnaire are dental surgeons from Kerala state in India who are the members of Indian dental association. Method: The questionnaire was designed to investigate general dental practitioners' knowledge of antibiotics prescription for a number of clinical signs that may be associated with a dental infection. Dental surgeons were also asked whether some clinical conditions required antibiotics and their choice of treatment if any. questionnaires were analyzed and the responses to each question expressed as absolute frequencies in SPSS database. The cases and the antibiotics prescribed by dentists for each case were determined by the descriptive statistics method ie frequency. Results: Of the 300 questionnaires delivered 248 (82%) respondents returned fully completed forms. Antibiotic use varied for different clinical sitautions. Amoxycillin is the most widely used antibiotic for dental infections. Conclusion: This study shows that the antibiotics are used in many conditions which are not indicated in normal situations. There has been an overuse of antibiotics

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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the type of impacted teeth in a south Indian population with the use of orthopantomogram and to assess the risk of proximity of inferior alveolar nerve. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 50 patients with asymptomatic Mandibular third molars screened and diagnosed at oral medicine . Panoramic radiographs were made for evaluation of identified cases. The angle of impacted Mandibular third molar was determined by the angle formed between the intersected longitudinal axes of the second and the third molars. Results: Of the 50 patients, mesioangular impaction (74%) was the most common and the proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve was more with the horizontal impactions Conclusion: Orthopantomogram is a simple two dimensional diagnostic procedure which can be adopted to assess the impaction before going for impaction to assess the anatomic proximity if inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in relation to the third molar root so as to prevent the further complications.

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Natal teeth are those present at birth and those that are present within thirty days after birth are called neonatal teeth. The occurrence of natal and neonatal teeth is a rare phenomenon and has been associated with diverse superstitions among different groups. These prematurely erupted teeth lead to varied reactions, which are combined with many misconceptions and have an impact on functional and psychological changes in the child's life and emotional status of the parents. They are most commonly found in the mandibular incisor region and the etiology is unknown. Only 10% of these teeth are supernumerary. They may be associated with endocrine causes and mostly found associated with syndromes and there is no sex predilection. In some cases familial tendency has been reported and follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. They are usually small and poorly developed with little or no root formation. The tooth has to be extracted if problems arise with difficulty in suckling, if it causes discomfort during breast feeding and to prevent the risk of aspiration if they become mobile. If the natal teeth are firm, conservative management is indicated so as to maintain esthetics and maintenance of space for eruption of permanent successor.

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The success of a complete denture relies on the principles of retention, stability and support. A prosthodontist's skill lies in applying these principles efficiently in critical situations. Severely resorbed maxillary edentulous ridges that are narrow and constricted provide decreased retention, stability and support. This clinical report describes an alternative method for the fabrication of hollow maxillary complete denture, thereby enhancing stability and retention, reducing the further resorption of the jaws. It incorporates fabrication of clear, vacuum form shim ensuring that there is adequate room for resin and teeth.

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Oral Submucous fibrosis is a precancerous condition affecting the oral cavity and sometimes the pharynx.In this case report, oral submucous fibrosis and related problems in prosthodontics rehabilitation and the techniques that improves the retention, stability, functional esthetics and comfort with a conservative approach is highlighted.

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The conventional modality of treatment of partial edentulousness with reduced number of teeth is to render them completely dentulous and provide them complete denture or an overdenture with support of few remaining teeth. The goal of maintenance of roots are to prevent alveolar bone resorption, provide better load transmission, maintain sensory feedback and achieve better stability of denture with emphasis on psychological aspect of not being completely edentulous. This clinical report aims at evaluation of tooth supported mandibular overdenture treatment with telescopic copings.

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Traumatic neuromas are relatively rare entities that characteristically arise following surgery or trauma. They are usually accompanied by pain of typical neuralgic type. We present an interesting case of traumatic neuroma of mental nerve following tooth extraction, which clinically presented as ear pain.

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Objective: To assess and compare differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes and behavior among first and final year dental And Medical students in Bareilly city, Uttarpradesh, India. Material and methods: In a cross-sectional study, 182 first year students (59 males and 123 females) and 157 final year students (75 males and 82 females) of the dental and medical college in Bareilly city; Uttarpradesh, were surveyed using a self administered structured questionnaire including 37 choice questions pre-tested through a pilot survey. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 10.0. The mean percentage scores, standard deviation, and frequency distribution were calculated. The Student's T-test and ANOVA test were used as test of significance. The linear regression analysis was used to assess the relation of knowledge, attitude and behavior. Results: The mean % score for oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior were significantly higher in final year students compared to first year students. (p<0.001). The linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant linear relationship of attitude with the knowledge (p<0.001) and behavior with the attitude (p<0.001) of the students. Conclusion: Besides the positive changes revealed in the oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior, among the students from first to final year of dental and medical studies, preventive behavior among the students could still be improved.

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Ameloblastoma is a true neoplasm of odontogenic epithelial origin. It is the second most common odontogenic neoplasm, and only odontoma outnumbers it in reported frequency of occurrence. Its incidence, combined with its clinical behavior, makes ameloblastoma the most significant odontogenic neoplasm. Unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) refers to those cystic lesions that show clinical, radiographic, or gross features of a mandibular cyst, but on histological examination show a typical ameloblastomatous epithelium lining part of the cyst cavity, with or without luminal and/or mural tumor growth. We report a rare case of unicystic ameloblastoma in a 13year-old male.

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Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are substances expressed in response to elevated temperatures or other cellular stress. They are highly conserved proteins inhabiting nearly all subcellular compartments and are found in all organisms and all cell types. When a cell is stressed, oligomeric complexes disassemble and polypeptides unfold. Under these conditions, the role of HSPs is to reverse such changes and, if refolding becomes impossible, to potentially speed up the removal of such denatured proteins. Expression of HSPs is induced even under non-stress conditions, including those of the cell cycle, development, and differentiation. As oral cavity is subjected to wide range of environmental stresses like temperature variations, exposure to noxious substances and psychological disturbances, HSP's show immunomodulatory effects. In this article the role of HSPs expression in various microbial infections, autoimmune diseases, as well as in oral squamous cell carcinoma are expressed.

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Resistance to antibiotics is increasing at an alarming rate. This is due to superbugs, producing heterogenous groups of enzymes, β-lactamases which inactivate β-lactam antibiotics and others as well. The β-lactamase Carbapenemase, has become a threat to the Carbapenems, which were the last resort β-lactam antibiotics. This article is a highlight on β- lactamases, specially Carbapenemases which includes New Delhi Metallo- β-lactamase - NDM-1.

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Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation, recession or both. Once the destruction is started, periodontium has a very limited capacity for regeneration. So the gold standard for any periodontal therapy is to regenerate the affected tissue to their original architecture and function. One such method is the identification of putative mesenchymal stem cell population within the periodontium, which is used to treat the damage caused by the periodontal disease. Stem cells are designed functionally as cells that have the capacity to self renew- as well as ability to generate differentiated cells. Various studies have confirmed the presence of stem cells in the different parts of the tooth like pulp, periodontal ligament, tips of developing roots, and the tissues that surrounds the unerupted tooth. This review provides an overview of various types of stem cells in dentistry and their potential uses especially pertaining to periodontal regeneration.

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