ABSTRACT
AIMS: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence and type of tobacco use among dental students and to identify the factors that influence them to initiate tobacco use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Dental students at two dental colleges affiliated to State Health University of Kerala answered a 20-item questionnaire during Jan-Feb 2015 that investigated their smoking habits and knowledge about the risk factors of smoking habits. The questions were based on the modified Global Health Professional Students Survey (GHPSS) by WHO. Some additional questions were also added from Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) by WHO to meet the objective of this study. RESULT: Current smoking was reported by 17% of the participants. None of the participants smoked more than half a packet of cigarette. More students from families with at least one tobacco user were using tobacco than those from families with no members using tobacco (51.2 versus 37.0%, respectively). The majority of dental students (92%) considered education on tobacco use cessation to be the responsibility of dentists/doctors. CONCLUSION: One of the main aims of this study was to shed light on the knowledge and attitudes of dental students on tobacco use cessation. Fairly high number of participants reported receiving inadequate information on tobacco cessation during their studies. Dental students should be taught and encouraged early on to routinely discuss with smokers the impacts of smoking on health.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: The word forensic, defined by Clark, is derived from the Latin word "forensis," which means "before the forum." Odontology refers to the study of teeth. Even though the scope of forensic odontology is well established among dental professionals, its practical application lies largely in the hands of medicolegal professionals. The interaction between the above mentioned two communities is highly crucial for the proper application of forensic odontology in medicolegal issues. AIM: The main aim of this study is to analyze the knowledge, attitude, and practice of forensic odontology among medical practitioners in central Kerala since they are the connecting link between victims and the forensic odontologists. RESULTS: A total of 200 medical practitioners had participated in the study, and the response rate was 100%. The study indicated that medical practitioners who are having an experience of above 15 years had more knowledge regarding forensic odontology when compared with those below 15 years of experience. However, the awareness of modern technologies in forensic odontology and latest techniques to register dental markings were found to be more prevalent among doctors with less than 15 years of experience.
ABSTRACT
Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is a relatively rare histological variant of ameloblastoma with specific clinical, radiological, and histological features. This tumor is more commonly seen in the anterior region of jaws as a mixed radiopaque-radiolucent lesion resembling benign fibro-osseous lesions. Histologically, DA is characterized by small nests and strands of "compressed" odontogenic epithelium supported by pronounced collagenized stroma. Metaplastic bone formation has been reported in few cases. This report describes a lesion in the left anterior maxilla of a young female patient.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The presence of neonatal line indicates live birth and it is possible to estimate the exact period of survival of the infant in days by measuring the amount of postnatal hard tissue formation, and thus can be an evidence to the brutal act of infanticide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary tooth germs of both the arches were removed from the sockets of an infant who died few days after birth. Ground sections were made with hard tissue microtome. Decalcified sections were made from the crown of primary right mandibular canine and the sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. To visualize the neonatal line, the sections were subjected to light mocroscopy, polarized microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A developing permanent molar from a one and a half year old boy and ten fully developed deciduous molars were used as controls. RESULTS: The ground sections of all the developing tooth germs showed the presence of neonatal line and the analysis of enamel showed six distinct cross striations along the enamel rod length indicating the period of survival of the baby to be six days which was later confirmed with the hospital records. CONCLUSION: Neonatal line could be used as an evidence of infanticide. Accurate detection of neonatal line with advanced techniques could rewrite this supplementary evidence of infanticide into substantial evidence.
