Dosimetry in dentistry.

Aim: The purpose of this paper was to review various dosimeters used in dentistry and the cumulative results of various studies done with various dosimeters. Materials and Methods: Several relevant PubMed indexed articles from 1999 to 2013 were electronically searched by typing “dosimeters”, “dosimeters in dentistry”, “properties of dosimeters”, “thermoluminescent and optically stimulated dosimeters”, “recent advancements in dosimetry in dentistry.” The searches were limited to articles in English to prepare a concise review on dental dosimetry. Titles and abstracts were screened, and articles that fulfilled the criteria of use of dosimeters in dental applications were selected for a full‑text reading. Article was divided into four groups: (1) Biological effects of radiation, (2) properties of dosimeters, (3) types of dosimeters and (4) results of various studies using different dosimeters. Conclusion: The present review on dosimetry based on various studies done with dosimeters revealed that, with the advent of radiographic technique the effective dose delivered is low. Therefore, selection of radiological technique plays an important role in dental dose delivery.

Gingival Enlargement: Revisited: A Case Series.

Gingival enlargement can be hereditary or acquired. More than 20 prescription medications are associated with gingival overgrowth. A detailed review on the risk factors and pathogenesis from various peer reviewed journals has been discussed in this article. The aim was to discuss the role of drugs causing gingival enlargement, the hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) and its possible pathogenesis. The following case series highlights four cases of gingival enlargement, one being a case of HGF and the other three being drug-induced gingival enlargement. Variable etiopathogenesis such as age, genetic predisposition, pharmacokinetic variables, tissue homeostasis, inflammation and growth factors have been associated with this disease. Inflammatory changes that occur within the gingival tissues appear to orchestrate the interaction between the “modified fibroblast” and the drug. Alternatively, these drugs influence directly the inflammatory response in the form of enlargement. This information is valuable for the clinician as it will have implication to treat the patient effectively.