Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic debilitating disease and a potentially malignant disorder of the oral cavity. The pathogenesis of the disease is not well established. Trace elements such as copper and iron play an important role in the pathogenesis of OSF. Estimation of these elements in serum of the patients may be helpful in understanding the pathologic mechanism. Therefore, a study was carried out to analyze the level of serum copper and iron in the population of Central India. Materials and Methods: A case–control study was carried out on 35 patients with clinically diagnosed of OSF and 35 healthy controls. OSF patients were categorized by clinical staging. Serum copper and iron concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: Results of the study shows that the mean serum copper concentration was greater in study group (133.3 ± 19.2) compared to control group (113.9 ± 22.1) and the mean serum iron was lower in study group (116.0 ± 24.1) compared to control group (128.2 ± 23.4). The result obtained was statistically significant. The serum copper level increases as the clinical staging of OSF progresses, whereas serum iron level decreases as clinical staging progresses. Conclusion: There was an increase in copper level and decrease in iron level in study group compared to control group; this suggests that there is an increase in copper level with the advancement of clinical staging of OSF.

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Statement of the Problem: Sorption and solubility by soft liners is accompanied by volumetric changes, microbial infestation, distortion, hardening, color change, and reduced bond strength between the liner and denture base. Water sorption and solubility of soft liners are, therefore, of obvious importance because of their influence on the long-term stability of a soft liner. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the water sorption and solubility of two chemically distinct soft liners (acrylic-based soft liner, Viscogel and silicone-based soft liner, Mollosil) at different storage intervals over 3-month period. Methods: Sixty disc-shaped specimens (30 mm × 1 mm) of each liner were fabricated, weighed, and divided into six groups of ten specimens each. The specimens were immersed in distilled water and in artificial saliva, and their weight data following immersion and subsequent drying were collected at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The percentage sorption and solubility were calculated, and the data were submitted to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The means were compared using Tukey's honest significant difference post hoc comparison. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed significant difference in the sorption and solubility between the two materials. Acrylic-based soft liner, Viscogel, demonstrated higher percentage absorption and solubility than its silicone-based counterpart, Mollosil, at all-time intervals in both distilled water and artificial saliva. Conclusion: On the basis of lower water sorption and solubility, silicone-based soft liner, Mollosil, may provide for better clinical success than acrylic-based soft liner, Viscogel.

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Background: The purpose of the study was to compare clinical efficacy of nonsurgical periodontal therapy with hand scaler, conventional ultrasonic scaler, and Vector^™ ultrasonic system in patients with generalized chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with generalized chronic periodontitis fitting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assigned to one of the three treatment groups (n = 20 in each group). Group I – hand scalers, Group II – conventional ultrasonic scalers, and Group III – Vector™ ultrasonic system. Before oral prophylaxis, clinical parameters (gingival index [GI], plaque index [PI], calculus index [CI], periodontal probing depth [PPD], clinical attachment loss [CAL], and hypersensitivity) were recorded. GI, PI, CI, and hypersensitivity were reevaluated at 1, 3, 6 and 12 weeks. PPD and CAL were reevaluated at 6 and 12 weeks. Results and Conclusion: The results showed that nonsurgical therapy with Vector^™ ultrasonic system is clinically comparable in all the parameters, to hand and conventional ultrasonic scalers, suggesting that it can be used as a gentle root debridement device for supportive periodontal therapy, as an alternative to other ultrasonic or sonic scalers.

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Objectives: To investigate the relationship between chronological age and the stages of maturation of cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI) and the middle phalanx of the middle finger (MP3) and to determine the correlation between CVMI and MP3. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 100 children (boys - 50, girls - 50) aged 8–14 years based on nonprobability quota sampling. The study included digital radiographs of the MP3 of the right hand and conventional lateral cephalograms. Chronological age was assessed by the date of birth, MP3 maturation by Rajagopal and Kansal's criteria, and CVMI development by Hassel and Farman's method. Statistical Analysis: Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient was applied to measure the association between stages of MP3 and CVMI. Results: Progressive stages of MP3 and CVMI were seen as chronological age advanced. Girls showed an advanced trend than boys in both MP3 and CVMI stages. MP3 and CVMI stages showed a strong positive correlation (r + 0.836, P < 0.01). Conclusions: MP3 and CVMI both are equally good indicators of skeletal maturity. Assessment of skeletal maturity on lateral cephalogram (CVMI) is advantageous as it avoids the need for an additional radiograph.

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Background: The present study is conducted to evaluate and compare the clinical performance of conventional band and loop space maintainer and fiber reinforced composite resin (FRCR) space maintainers. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 extraction sites in the age group of 6–9 years having premature loss of primary molars or indicated for extraction were selected for the study. The patients were randomly divided into three groups as Group I, in which conventional band and loop space maintainer was given, Group II and Group III (FRCR), in which FRCR (everStick CandB) and impregnated glass fibers (Interlig) space maintainers were given, respectively. Patients were recalled at 3, 6, and 12-month interval for evaluation of all the three types of space maintainer. Results: Overall success rate of Group I was 86.7%, for Group II was 80%, and for Group III was 73.3% at the end of the study. Patient acceptability was significantly higher in Group II and Group III (FRCR) as compared to Group I (Conventional band and loop). In Group I, cement loss and fracture of loop, whereas in Group II and Group III, debonding at enamel composite was the most common failure followed by debonding at fiber composite and fiber fracture. FRCR space maintainers were found to be cost-effective as compared to Group I. More linear changes and angular changes were recorded in Group I as compared to Group II and Group III but difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Only single (buccal) surface application of FRCR space maintainers showed almost equal clinical efficacy compared to conventional band and loop space maintainer with significantly better patient acceptability, less cost, and time taken.

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In the recent times, chair-side/bed-side monitoring tests have gained importance over the routine laboratory tests as they are easier and faster to perform without requiring skilled personnel. Biosensors refer to such type of point-of-care devices that are developed to help in the early diagnosis, periodic monitoring, and treatment of disease. These devices utilize biological reactions for detecting and measuring a particular substance (analyte) of interest. Till date, blood has been the gold standard diagnostic fluid for various diseases. However, oral fluids such as saliva and gingival crevicular fluid offer advantages such as noninvasive collection of sample, smaller sample aliquots, easy storage and transportation, repeated sampling for monitoring over time, and greater sensitivity, making them an alternative clinical tool over serum and tissues for many biomedical diagnostic assays. This review highlights the use of oral fluid-based biosensors for diagnosis of caries, periodontitis, oral cancer, and various systemic diseases.

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Vascular lesions are among the most common congenital and neonatal abnormalities. These anomalies can occur throughout the whole body, with 60%, however, being located in the head and neck region probably due to its intricate vascular anatomy of region. There is a significant confusion in the literature because of the use of confusing descriptive terminology for the same vascular entity and eponyms. Correct naming of lesion, appropriate classification, and clinical appearance of vascular lesions have a direct impact on understanding of etiologies of these complex lesions, diagnosis, and in treating patients. Thus, the aim of this article is to provide comprehensive knowledge about classifications and to have an insight of various important vascular lesions affecting head and neck region based on its pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management.

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