Nitin Agarwal

Age estimation using maxillary central incisors: A radiographic study.

Background: In the field of forensic dentistry, secondary changes in teeth with advancing age have been used as reliable predictors of age in various studies. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to present a method for assessing the chronological age based on the relationship between age and morphological parameters of maxillary central incisors. Materials and Methods: Fifty subjects between 20-70 years of age were included in the study. Intraoral periapical radiographs were taken in relation to maxillary central incisors using paralleling technique. The following measurements were recorded: lengths of tooth, pulp, root and width of root and pulp at three different points. Regression formulas were used to calculate the dental age. Results: The mean estimated age showed no statistically significant difference from the actual mean age (P > 0.05). Also, maximum difference was seen for root length variable (-1.035 ± 1.86 years).

Squamous odontogenic tumor of the maxilla: a case report and review of the literature

Squamous odontogenic tumors are rare neoplasms of the jaw that are benign and locally infiltrative. The tumor originates in the gingival rests of Malassez, remnants of dental lamina or gingival surface epithelium. This type of tumor was first described by Pullon et al. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 40:616–630, 1975). The clinical presentation is mostly asymptomatic, though pain and tooth mobility may also occur. Radiographically, the tumor presents as a triangular radiolucent lesion found mostly in the maxilla and present between the roots of the teeth. Histologically, it may appear similar to acanthomatous and desmoplastic ameloblastoma; hence, it can present problems in differential diagnosis. Here, we describe a case of squamous odontogenic tumor of the anterior maxilla in a middle-aged Indian man.

Appearance can be deceptive: Dentigerous cyst crossing the midline

Dentigerous cyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst, which develops by accumulation of fluid between reduced enamel epithelium and the tooth crown of an unerupted tooth. Dentigerous cysts are usually solitary, slow growing, asymptomatic lesions that are incidentally found during routine radiographs They most frequently involve the mandibular third molar followed in order of frequency by the maxillary canine, mandibular second pre-molar and maxillary third molar. Occasionally, these cysts become painful when infected causing swelling and erythema. The cyst is usually small, however, when large, results in the expansion and thinning of the cortex leading to pathological fracture. Radiographic features are specific to the lesion characterized by a well-defined radiolucency circumscribed by a sclerotic border, associated with the crown of an impacted or unerupted tooth. Dentigerous cysts are treated most commonly by enucleation, Marsupialization and decompression of cyst by fenestration. The criteria for selecting the treatment modality is based on the age, size, location, stage of root development, position of the involved tooth and relation of the lesion to the adjacent tooth and vital structure. The prognosis is an excellent when the cyst is enucleated and recurrence is rare. In this article, we present a case of a Dentigerous cyst in an 80-year-old man in the anterior aspect of the mandible enveloping an impacted canine and crossing the midline but with no clinical expansion or discomfort.

Diode laser: In treatment of recurrent verrucous leukoplakia

Laser first came into light in 1960 and had been used extensively in various fields of medicine. Laser has been experimented in the various dental field, and its utility is being recognized and established well in the dentistry. Lasers are widely used for a number of procedures such as cavity preparation, scaling, and root planning, surgical procedures like excision of soft tissue growths, etc., Improved healing, hemostasis, and sutureless excisions are some of the many advantages of laser over conventional treatment modalities. It is because of these advantages that laser is becoming more and more popular as a treatment option in various aspects of dentistry. We hereby present a case report, where we have used diode laser for surgical management of a proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL), because of its many advantages over conventional methods. It presents very specific characteristics, mainly a more aggressive biological behavior than other forms of leukoplakia expressed by: A tendency toward multifocality (field cancerization); a high prospect of recurrence; and a high rate of malignant transformation, which can range between 40% and 100% in a follow-up period of 4.4–11.6 years. In this case, we evaluated the advantages of diode laser for the treatment of verrucous leukoplakia, where the results that we obtained were excellent. The patient had come for evaluation till the time of complete healing.

Efficacy of scintigraphy as a diagnostic aid in oral and maxillofacial pathologies: A comparative radionuclide-radiographic study

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate various lesions involving the oral and maxillofacial region by using scintigraphy and to compare the findings with those of conventional radiograph. Materials and Methods: Nineteen subjects of all age groups and both sexes who reported to the outpatient department of Oral Medicine and Radiology and had been clinically diagnosed with diseases of oral and maxillofacial region were selected. Conventional radiography and scintigraphy were performed for all the subjects. Biopsy and histopathological investigations were preformed to confirm the diagnosis and on the basis of which sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and efficiency of conventional radiography and scintigraphy were evaluated. Results: Conventional radiography was found to have 94.11% sensitivity, 50% specificity, 94.11% positive predictive value, and 89.47% efficiency. Scintigraphy was found to have 100% sensitivity, 14.28% specificity, 66.66% positive predictive value, and 68.42% efficiency. Conclusion: Scintigraphy is a very sensitive diagnostic aid, but lacks in specificity. Conventional radiography, on the other hand, has good sensitivity and relatively better specificity. For a proper diagnosis, scintigraphic findings must be correlated with clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings.

Evaluation of efficacy of turmeric in management of oral submucous fibrosis

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of turmeric in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients. Objectives: To check the treatment efficacy of turmeric in terms of burning sensation on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and mouth opening, and to evaluate the group which showed the maximum improvement. Materials and Methods: 30 subjects diagnosed with OSMF were included in this study. The patients were administered commercially available turmeric; their mouth opening and burning sensation on VAS scale were evaluated at regular intervals, and the data was then compared. Results: The improvement in mouth opening was not significant; however, the change in burning sensation on VAS was significant. Conclusion: Treatment of OSMF with turmeric is an affordable and effective treatment methodology; however, further research needs to be done.