Evaluating Static Bone Cysts (SBCs) Through Long-Term Volumetric Analysis Using CBCT: A Study with 6-Month Follow-Up.

Background: Salivary gland bone defects are static lesions which are rare entities, generally asymptomatic and found in routine imaging exams. However, in atypical cases or when misdiagnosed, surgical intervention is carried out. Purpose: a) The study is intended to investigate the frequency of SBC's and to describe the radiological characteristics of its subtypes; b) To evaluate the efficacy of volumetric analysis tool in CBCT and; c) To describe the confirmative role of CBCT in the diagnosis of SBC's without the need for surgical intervention. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 11 subjects with SBC detected on 3304 panoramic radiographs. CBCT images for each patient were captured at baseline and at an interval of 6 months. Radiographic sub-types of SBC based on the relationship to mandibular canal and bucco-lingual expansion were studied. Files in DICOM format were transferred into OnDemand 3D program (Cybermed Co, Seoul, Korea) and volumes in mm3 of the cavities were measured by 2 observers at both intervals. Inter and intra reliability of volumetric measurements between observers was compared using correlation coefficient and student t test. Results: There were 8 males and 3 females who had SBC in this study (age range: 22-70 years). According to the relationship of SBC with mandibular canal, most SBCs were Type 1 (63.5 %) followed by Type 2 & 3 (18.5 %) each. The total volume of SBC in patients ranged from 146 mm3 to 650 mm3 (mean: 332.5 mm3). There was no significant difference between observers for volume measurements at baseline and at 6 months interval (p>0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, CBCT should be considered as a definitive diagnostic modality for volumetric analysis of SBCs. Over diagnosis, unnecessary surgical exploration and agony to patients can be avoided using this tool. Key words:Stafne bone cavity, CBCT, Volumetric analysis, salivary gland, panoramic radiography.

Dens Evaginatus and Dens Invaginatus in Dilacerated Maxillary Lateral Incisor Diagnosed Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography - A Case Report and Review of Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Dens invaginatus (DI) and Dens evaginatus (DE), the developmental anomalies affecting the morphology of the tooth structure are extremely rare to occur. DI occurs because of invagination of a crown into dental papillae. DE is a tubercular emergence from occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and lingual surfaces of anterior teeth. The two anomalies on separate teeth are frequently mentioned, but their co-occurrence in a single tooth is a rare entity. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 20-year-old male patient presented with the rare combination of DE and DI on a dilacerated maxillary right lateral incisor diagnosed using cone beam CT. Treatment: The patient was managed conservatively and is undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment for malocclusion. Despite its uniqueness, very few localized cases have been documented. TAKEAWAY LESSONS: These anomalies act as an etiological factor for several dental problems for neighboring & opposing tooth. Early diagnosis of such anomalies should be done so that prophylactic management can be initiated.

Pink esthetic and radiological scores around immediate implants placed in the esthetic zone - Socket-Shield Technique versus Immediate Conventional Technique: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: It is irrefutable that the extraction of teeth inextricably results in definitive changes in the surrounding hard and soft tissues. Recently, Socket-Shield Technique (SST) has been used to keep the buccal two-third of the root intact in the socket. This buccal shield further preserves the periodontium-bundle bone complex and hence preserves the buccal hard and soft tissue. The purpose of the study was to do a statistical comparative analysis of two different types of flapless and graftless techniques using the esthetic (Pink Esthetic Index) and radiological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of thirty nonrestorable tooth/root stumps (vital or nonvital) were selected and randomly allocated to two different groups: control group with immediate conventional implant placement (without SST) (Group C, n = 15) and test group with immediate implant placement using SST (Group S, n = 15). All of the sites received immediate chairside temporaries. All implants were restored either with screw- or cement-retained prostheses 4 months postoperative. Each control and test group was analyzed at two different durations: 15 days after placement of provisional and 15 days after placement of definitive prosthesis. Five parameters of Pink Esthetic Score (PES) were used for esthetic analysis, and digital periapical radiographs were used for radiographic analysis. RESULTS: Within the time frame of the study (15 days postplacement of definitive prosthesis), a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between PES of the two techniques. Test group S (mean = 9.07) showed better scores than control group C (mean = 6.87). It was observed that buccal bone was maintained in all the cases of test group S while there was loss of buccal bone in almost all the cases of control group C. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this short-term pilot study, better soft-tissue parameters were observed with SST as compared to a conventional graftless technique whenever a restoration on immediate implant placement is considered.

Correlation of serum biomarkers (TSA & LSA) and epithelial dysplasia in early diagnosis of oral precancer and oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is currently the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths, which is usually preceded by oral pre-cancerous lesions and conditions. Altered glycosylation of glycoconjugates, such as sialic acid, fucose, etc. are amongst the important molecular changes that accompany malignant transformation. The purpose of our study was to evaluate usefulness of serum Total Sialic Acid (TSA) and serum Lipid-Bound Sialic Acid (LSA) as markers of oral precancerous lesions and histopathologically correlating them with grades of epithelial dysplasia. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 50 patients with oral precancer (Leukoplakia & OSMF), 25 patients with untreated oral cancer and 25 healthy subjects. Serum sialic acid (total and lipid bound) levels were measured spectrophotometrically. Tissue samples from all the patients were evaluated for dysplasia. RESULTS: Serum levels of total and lipid bound sialic acid were significantly elevated in patients with oral precancer and cancer when compared with healthy subjects. Analysis of variance test documented that there is progressive rise in serum levels of sialic acid with the degree of dysplastic changes in oral precancer patients. We observed positive correlation between serum levels of the markers and the extent of malignant disease (TNM Clinical staging) as well as histopathological grades. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that serum levels of TSA and LSA progressively increases with grades of dysplasia in precancerous groups and cancer group, when compared with healthy controls. These glycoconjugates, especially LSA has the clinical utility in indicating a premalignant change.