Dental status among fisher folk communities: a clinical study and its role in forensic dentistry

AIM: To assess the dental findings among fishermen communities residing in the coastal areas of Edakkad and Muzhappilangad, Kannur, Kerala, South India, and the feasibility of using these findings for identification of the subjects in forensic investigation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty males of age group 30-35 years were selected- two groups of 20 each from two fishermen communities and one control group of 10 from the non- fishermen population. The parameters included in the study were work procedure, smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption, attrition, cervical abrasion, macrodontia, incisal notching, dental caries and facial features. For statistical analysis was used chi-square test. RESULTS: All the parameters were significantly more in the study groups compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: Further research is suggested to identify other factors which may influence the outcome of forensic investigation.

Further on the causation of oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis is perhaps a disease of multifactorial aetiology, of which areca nut usage is definitely a causative factor. We disagree with the previous reports in that the action of areca quid on the oral mucosa is not that simplistic and is not dictated solely by the duration of exposure to it or by simple process of passive diffusion. We noted that the role of copper cannot be segregated from that of zinc, the biochemical relatedness of these two elements is well elucidated. The transport of copper in to the oral epithelium may be dictated more by the composition of the quid rather than the time of exposure. Zinc is implicated in the modulation of mucosal metallothionein, thereby interfering with copper absorption. The bioavailability of zinc in its turn depends on elements like calcium and iron present in oral fluid. The usage of slaked lime(calcium hydroxide) as as ingredient of betel quid, thereby causing an interference with zinc bioavailability is a matter of concern. Of practical importance is the processing of raw areca nut and the various proprietary forms (sachets) available in the market, the toxic effects of which varies depending on its contents. Studies on the role of geochemical factors in modulating the chemical composition of the various nut forms, thereby altering its toxic effects will be an interesting pursuit.