Shaul Hameed

An extensive denture‑induced hyperplasia of maxilla

Denture-induced hyperplasia is a reactive lesion arising from excessive and chronic mechanical pressure on the vestibular oral mucosa. It has a female predilection and it is mostly seen in the maxilla. The size of the lesion may be as small as a few millimeters to massive lesion involving the entire vestibule. It is usually asymptomatic but sometimes severe inflammation and ulceration can occur. Elimination of the inflammation and excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice. Denture induced hyperplasia in right maxillary buccal vestibule in a middle age old female patient was presented. Surgical excision was done and new denture was fabricated.

Gonial angle and ramus height as sex determinants: A radiographic pilot study

Objective: This study aimed to identify sexual dimorphism using the measurement of two mandibular parameters, namely gonial angle and ramus height, using panoramic radiography and the application of the same in forensic studies. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 panoramic radiographs were selected from the archives of the Department of Radiology, Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital, Mangalore. The parameters assessed were gonial angle and ramus height. They were measured in the panoramic radiographs using Agfa-NX software for each subject. The mean values were calculated and compared between male and female subjects using a paired samples test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The results of the study showed that males had higher values for the parameters compared to females. Gonial angle was recorded higher in males than females, but the difference was not statistically significant. Ramus height showed a statistically significant increase in males when compared to females, and the right side showed higher significance compared to the left. Conclusion: Sexual dimorphism can be assessed using the gonial angle and ramus height. This finding has a potential application in the use of sex identification in forensic and anthropological studies.

Dental age estimation using the Foti's method - A pilot study

Background: A retrospective pilot study was done to estimate the chronological age of an individual using the radiographs in the Dental Radiology Department by the Foti′s Model 1 regressive formula and to correlate the efficacy of the chronological and radiographic age by using this formula. Materials and Methods: The present study comprised of 25 subjects ranging from six to twenty years. The dental age was assessed by using the Foti′s method based on the Model 1 regressive formula. Panoramic radiographs were taken. The data were analyzed by using the paired t test, interclass correlation coefficient, and regression analysis, using SPSS 13. Results: The average chronological age was 10.6 ± 2.5 that of Foti′s method was 16.4 ± 1.4, which showed a statistically high and significant difference. Assessment of the agreement between the two methods: The interclass correlation coefficient was 0.778 (C.I: 0.625 - 0.863), which showed poor agreement between the two methods (P = 0). Conclusion: The present study indicated that the Foti′s Model 1 regressive formula was inappropriate for age estimation in the present sample population.

Xerostomia: Few dry facts about dry mouth

Xerostomia is the subjective feeling of oral dryness, which is often associated with hypofunction of the salivary gland. Xerostomia can also have a major impact on a patient′s oral health and quality of life. Patients with xerostomia complaints of problems with mastication, phonetics, deglutition and wearing dentures. Treatment of this condition always depends on the cause. Oral physicians should be able to diagnose this condition and able to give proper treatment to provide comfort to their patients. This article reviews the causes of xerostomia and its management.