Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Amlexanox in the Treatment of Erosive Oral Lichen Planus: A Clinical Experience from a Tertiary Care Center.

Aim: This comparative study evaluated the effectiveness and safety profile of topical amlexanox and triamcinolone for the management of erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP). Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational study included 21 patients diagnosed clinically and histopathologically with EOLP and categorized into two groups. Subjects in the two groups were prescribed topical amlexanox and triamcinolone, respectively, for 4 weeks. The area of the erosive lesion and burning sensation was measured at baseline, at the end of the first, 2second, and fourth week. These outcome measures were documented and statistically analyzed. The statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 22. Analysis for age distribution was done by independent sample t test. Analysis of sex distribution was done by chi-square test. Variations within a single group for both the outcome parameters were calculated by Wilcoxon signed rank test. (P < 0.05 statistically significant). Results: A total of 30 erosive sites were evaluated in 21 patients over a 4-week duration. The most common site was the buccal mucosa in both groups (23 of 30; 76.67% of total lesions assessed), followed by the tongue (5 of 30; 16.67% of total lesions assessed), the palate (1 of 30; 3.33% of total sites assessed), and the maxillary attached gingiva (1 of 30; 3.33% of total sites assessed). Group 1 (amlexanox) was comprised of 11 subjects, whereas Group 2 (triamcinolone) was comprised of 10 subjects. Pre and posttreatment comparison revealed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.756; 0.512, respectively), for the area of the erosion and burning sensation. Intragroup analysis showed that in Groups 1 and 2, there was a statistically significant reduction in the measures posttreatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Amlexanox provides an earlier onset of pain relief in the treatment of EOLP, whereas providing a comparable reduction in the erosive area compared with triamcinolone. Topical amlexanox appears to be as effective as triamcinolone and is a promising alternative in the management of the erosive lichen planus with minimal adverse effects.

Quantitative and Qualitative Correlation of Mandibular Lingual Bone with Risk Factors for Third Molar Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

Background: Lingual plate thickness, density, and proximity to the tooth are linked as risk factors for various complications associated with third molar extraction. The present study aimed to assess the lingual plate thickness, and density in the mandibular third molar region using cone beam computed tomography and to estimate its correlation with type and level of impaction, number of roots, age, and gender as the risk factors. Methods: This was a retrospective study on CBCT images of 648 mandibular third molars. The lingual plate thickness at three different root levels - cervical, mid-root, and apex along with the position of the tooth, number of roots, density of lingual plate, age, and gender were evaluated. The measurements were done on Invivo 5-Anatomage software. Statistical comparison of the categorical variables was done by Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, and univariate and multivariate analysis were done using binomial logistic regression. Results: Lingual plate thickness of the third molars at the cervical, mid root, and apex were 1.28 mm, 1.42 mm and .01 mm (mean). A significantly higher proportion of subjects with thin lingual plates at mid-root (p-value=0.01) and apex (p-value=0.05) were in the 21-30 age group. Lingual bone density was significantly associated with the thickness of the lingual plate at the mid-root. A significantly higher proportion of thinner lingual plates at the mid-root level were associated with mesioangularly placed third molars (p-value=0.002). Conclusion: Our study presented that lingual plate thickness has a strong association with age, angulation, and the number of roots. Knowledge about these risk factors is imperative during the management of third molar impactions.

Effect of Duration of Mobile Phone Use on the Salivary Flow and Total Antioxidant Capacity of Saliva and Salivary Immunoglobulin A Level: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of the duration of handheld mobile phone usage on the salivary flow, salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) level, and salivary markers for oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one students were categorized into three groups based on their duration of mobile phone usage after age- and gender-matching. Students were grouped as: mobile phone usage <20 min/day (Group A), mobile phone usage 20-60 min/day (Group B), and mobile phone usage >60 min/day (Group C). Saliva was collected to evaluate salivary flow rate, salivary IgA level, and salivary markers for oxidative stress. Results: The salivary flow rate showed no statistically significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.180). There was no statistically significant difference in the salivary IgA between the three groups (P = 0.237). There was a statistically significant difference in the malondialdehyde (MDA) level between the three groups (P = 0.042). On pair comparison between the groups, group B and group C had a statistically significant difference (P = 0.019) in the MDA level. There was no statistically significant difference in the salivary thiol level between the three groups (P = 0.237). Conclusion: The duration of handheld mobile phone usage did not show any significant effects on the salivary flow rate, salivary IgA, and thiol levels. There was an increase in the salivary MDA concentration in subjects using handheld mobile phones for a longer duration, indicating higher oxidative stress in salivary glands exposed to mobile phone radiofrequency electromagnetic waves for a longer duration.

Email and instant messaging applications as platforms for remote oral radiology consultation in maxillofacial fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to test the reliability and diagnostic efficacy of the evaluation of radiographs transmitted by email and through instant messaging in the diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Screening of radiographs of 150 patients by a senior maxillofacial radiologist was performed as the gold standard method for the assessment of fractures by using a workstation monitor. The radiographs were sent to the Gmail accounts of 2 observers, who used their laptop computers to independently evaluate the radiographs for fractures. The same radiographs were sent to the smartphones of the observers via WhatsApp Messenger and were evaluated on the smartphone screens. Intra- and interobserver reliability, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: The reliability of the observers' diagnoses for both modalities ranged from 0.96 to 1.00 compared with the gold standard. Intra- and interobserver reliability ranged from 0.85 to 0.98. Measures of diagnostic efficacy ranged from 93.5% to 100% for images sent by Gmail and from 95.2% to 99.9% for radiographs transmitted through WhatsApp Messenger. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that email and instant messaging applications can be reliable tools for the assessment of maxillofacial fractures by radiologists located at remote sites.

Evaluation of the Effect of Age, Gender, and Skeletal Class on the Dimensions of Sella Turcica Using Lateral Cephalogram.

CONTEXT: Sella turcica or pituitary fossa is a saddle-shaped concavity housing the pituitary gland and seen clearly on lateral cephalogram. This makes it a good source of additional diagnostic information related to pathology of the pituitary gland or to various syndromes that affect the craniofacial region. AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the average dimensions and morphological variations of the sella turcica in different age groups and to evaluate any difference in size between males and females in the study population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: All the lateral cephalograms were taken by trained radiographic technicians using Planmeca Promax Ceph X-ray Machine, Finland, Inc., in a standardized manner using the same cephalostat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and eighty lateral cephalograms were obtained under standardized conditions. With age range between 7 and 43 years, all the radiographs were distributed according to skeletal class and gender. Size and morphology of sella turcica were recorded and compared with age, gender, and skeletal class. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: A Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was found to be 16.8 years comprising 48.6% males and 51.3% females. There was a gradual increase in linear dimensions of sella turcica with the advancement of age. The normal sella was observed in 20.6%, whereas 79.35% showed variation in morphology. Oblique anterior wall was a most common abnormal variant, whereas pyramidal shaped dorsum was rarest. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in linear dimensions or morphological variations with age, gender, or type of malocclusion.

Rebamipide gargle in preventive management of chemo-radiotherapy induced oral mucositis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Oral mucositis is inflammation of mucosa of oral cavity which is an inevitable and acute side effect in patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for head & neck cancer. Though many agents have been tried in prevention & treatment of oral mucositis, until date no single agent exists that is universally established to be effective. METHODS: 60 Patients diagnosed with Head & Neck cancer recruited for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were assigned in a double blind fashion into 2 groups using computer based 1:1 ratio randomization. Subjects in Group 1 were given Rebamipide gargle while subjects in Group 2 were given Placebo gargle in similar colour coded bottles to gargle 6 times/day. Subjective assessment of oral mucositis was done by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and objective scoring according to RTOG system. RESULTS: All subjects in the Group 1 reported good treatment compliance but 4 subjects in Group 2 developed burning sensation to gargle and were excluded. Onset of oral mucositis was 3.5days earlier in Group 2 (mean=11.17) as compared to Group 1 (mean=14.63). At the end of chemo-radiotherapy, severity of oral mucositis was significantly lower in Group 1 (mean=1.97) than in Group 2 (mean=2.81). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Findings of this study revealed that Rebamipide gargle may be an effective means to prolong the onset of oral mucositis and may reduce the severity of oral mucositis in undergoing chemo-radiotherapy.

Hybrid ameloblastoma: An amalgam of rare and conventional ameloblastoma.

Ameloblastoma is a common benign odontogenic tumor with multiple histologic types. This case report describes an unusual type of ameloblastoma called "Hybrid Ameloblastoma" with features of both follicular and desmoplastic ameloblastoma in a 50-year-old female. This is a very rare form of ameloblastoma as <30 cases have been reported so far in literature. Though this rare form of ameloblastoma is only a histologic variant, it poses a great challenge to diagnosticians and thus to surgeons as there will be mismatch of biopsy reports at different sites in the same tumor thereby changing the treatment plan. This case report is one such example of diverse presentation of this ameloblastoma with conflicting histopathological diagnosis at initial biopsy and on surgical excision.

Maffucci’s Syndrome: report of a case with oral manifestation / Síndrome de Maffucci: relato de caso com manifestação oral

Introduction: Maffucci’s Syndrome is a rare nonhereditary mesodermal dysplasia consisting of multiple haemangioma of the soft tissue and enchondromas, mostly affecting phalanges and long bones. The syndrome can also be associated with a variety of other benign and malignant tumors. Case report: Here we report a case of Maffucci’s Syndrome and haemangioma of lip and palate which is rare in this syndrome. This case report describes an 18 year old boy with multiple nodular soft tissue swellings involving the anterior hard palate and lower labial mucosa and bony abnormalities (enchondromas) involving the lower limb.

Introdução: A Síndrome de Maffucci é uma displasia mesodermal não hereditária rara. Consiste de múltiploshemangiomas de tecido mole e encondromas, a maioria afetando as falanges e os ossos longos. A síndromepode também estar associada a uma variedade de tumores benignos e malignos. Relato de caso: O presente trabalho apresenta um caso de Síndrome de Maffucci e hemangioma de lábio e palato, o que é raro nessa síndrome, descrevendo o caso de um garoto de 18 anos de idade com inchaços nodulares múltiplos de tecido mole envolvendo o palato duro anterior e a mucosa labial inferior, além de anomalias ósseas (encondromas)acometendo um membro inferior.

Non-syndromic hypohyperdontia of the permanent dentition with involvement of the mandibular anterior region: a rare occurrence / Hipo-hiperdontia não sindrômica da dentição permanente com envolvimento da região anterior mandibular: uma rara ocorrência

Objective: To present an uncommon case of numeric abnormalities in a non-syndromic patient.Discussion: Dental numeric abnormalities in development of the permanent dentition are quite common;however, combined occurrence of hypodontia and hyperdontia is a rare phenomenon, especiallyin a non-syndromic situation. This paper describes a 28-year-old non-syndromic man with missing mandibularlateral incisors and an erupted mandibular mesiodens. This is only the third case, to the best ofour knowledge, with the two anomalies manifesting in the anterior region of the mandible.

Objetivo: Apresentar um caso incomum de anomalias numéricas num caso de paciente não sindrômico. Discussão:Anomalias dentárias numéricas no desenvolvimento da dentição permanente são comuns; entretanto, a ocorrênciacombinada de hipo e hiperdontia é um fenômeno raro, especialmente em situações não sindrômicas. Este artigo descreve o caso de um paciente masculino não sindrômico apresentando ausência de incisivos laterais mandibularese um mesiodens mandibular erupcionado. Esse é o único caso, pelo melhor de nosso conhecimento, com as duasanomalias manifestando-se simultaneamente na região anterior da mandíbula.