Evaluation of Normal Morphology of Mandibular Condyle: A Radiographic Survey.

OBJECTIVES: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex, highly specialized joint. Along with the teeth, these joints are considered to be a "tri-joint complex." Mandibular condyle morphology is characterized by a rounded bone projection with an upper biconvex and oval surface in axial plane. Anatomical knowledge of the TMJ is one of the basic foundations of clinical practice, allowing the understanding of TMJ pathologies and fabrication of condylar prostheses. The cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken to evaluate normal variation in the condylar morphology on radiographs in persons without TMJ symptomatology and its relation to age, gender, dentition status, chewing habits, parafunctional habits, history of orthodontic treatment, and denture wearing was assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 350 subjects without TMJ symptomatology included in the study were further grouped by age, gender, dentition status, chewing habits, parafunctional habits, history of orthodontic treatment, and denture wearing history. Panoramic radiograph was taken for the assessment of condylar morphology. RESULTS: A significant association between dentition status and bilaterally similar condylar morphology was noticed. Bilaterally similar condyles were seen in 81.4% of subjects. Round-shaped condyles were seen in 176 (62%) persons. Loss of bilateral occlusion tends to alter the condylar morphology. Association between normal chewing habits and bilaterally similar condyle shapes was significant. CONCLUSION: The study describes the normal morphology of mandibular condyles in a population attending the tertiary dental care center, Kozhikode. The dentition status and chewing habits of individuals had a significant role in determining condylar morphology.

Plasma-Cell Gingivitis a Challenge to the Oral Physician.

Plasma-cell gingivitis (PCG) is an uncommon inflammatory condition of idiopathic etiology. PCG is a rare condition, appearing as erythema (redness) and edema (swelling) of the attached gingiva. The diagnosis of PCG is based on arrant history taking, clinical examination, and appropriate diagnostic tests. Here, we are presenting a case of PCG in a 12-year-old boy, its management and treatment outcome after 3 years of regular follow-up in tertiary health-care center in North Kerala.

Use of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of an Unusual Canine Abnormality.

Diagnosis and treatment planning are important for successful endodontic treatment. We report a 24-year old male who presented to the Government Dental College in Kozhikode, Kerala, India, in 2015 with pain in his right upper canine. A digital periapical radiograph indicated the presence of a supernumerary tooth superimposing the root of the canine. However, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) confirmed that the supernumerary tooth was an illusion and that the canine root had a sharp invagination involving the labial and pulpal dentin surfaces, with evidence of periapical bone destruction. A blunt resection was performed at the level of the invagination and the resected end was filled with a dentin substitute. At a one-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and the periapical region appeared to be healing well. This report highlights the importance of CBCT in visualising abnormal canine morphology, thus allowing appropriate endodontic treatment.

Fibrous dysplasia--a 13-year retrospective radiographic analysis in a south Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the clinical and radiographic presentation of fibrous dysplasia through a 13-year retrospective study in patients who reported to the outpatient unit of Government Dental College, Trivandrum. METHODS: The clinical file records and radiographs of the patients who reported to the outpatient clinic in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology were retrospectively reviewed for histopathologically diagnosed fibrous dysplasia. A detailed analysis of the clinical and radiographic features of the 24 cases retrieved was carried out. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio of incidence was approximately 1:1. Most of the patients were in the second or third decade of life. Almost all the patients presented with a complaint of swelling on the side of the face. The mandible was more frequently involved than the maxilla. The most common radiographic pattern observed was the "ground-glass" appearance. Most of the patients exhibited expansion of the involved bone and loss of lamina dura of associated teeth. CONCLUSION: The awareness of protean features of fibrous dysplasia evident through this study is essential in the accurate diagnosis and proper treatment planning of such lesions.

Autofluorescence spectroscopy for the in vivo evaluation of oral submucous fibrosis.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to analyze the autofluorescence spectrum of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF); in order to find out whether the technique is effective for the in vivo detection of OSF and for the early detection of malignant changes in OSF. BACKGROUND: The feasibility of autofluorescence spectroscopy to detect subtle alterations in tissue architecture and biochemical composition induced by dysplasia and inflammation has been studied in the field of oral oncology. Because early detection and proper treatment of common oral precancerous conditions such as OSF and any malignant transformation are important, autofluorescence spectroscopy was applied to detect OSF in this study. METHODS: In vivo autofluorescence emission spectra were collected at excitation wavelength of 320 nm from buccal mucosa from patients grouped as normal, OSF, or OSF with malignancy. The emission spectra were recorded and analyzed for variations from normal spectra with respect to spectral profile and intensity. RESULTS: The emission spectrum of OSF had a significantly higher emission peak around 380 nm and 460 nm when compared with the normal mucosal spectrum. The carcinoma spectrum also had two peaks around 380 and 460 nm regions with reduced intensity. The spectrum of carcinoma in OSF was significantly different from spectrum of carcinoma arising from otherwise normal mucosa and also from the spectrum of normal mucosa. The difference in spectral intensities between normal, OSF, and carcinoma in OSF was found to be highly significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Autofluorescence spectroscopy has been proved to be a promising technique that can successfully differentiate precancerous and cancerous changes from normal mucosa. The spectra from each group studied (normal mucosa, OSF, and OSF with carcinoma) showed distinct features that made it possible to differentiate OSF from normal mucosa and also to detect malignant changes in OSF noninvasively and in real time.