Anatomical Variations of the Greater Palatine Foramen in Different Facial Skeletal Relationships and its Implications on LeFort 1 Osteotomy (Trimble's Modification)

Purpose

To determine the positional variations of the greater palatine foramen in different facial skeletal relationships and discuss its surgical implications on the Trimble's modification of Lefort I osteotomy.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study examined 50 computed tomography scans of patients a total of 100 sides. The sample was divided into four groups: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 malocclusion and Unilateral cleft lip and palate). The outcome variables included the distance between anterior, middle and posterior points of the GPF to the distal of second molar and variables to assess relative position of the GPF to the posterior maxilla. Outcome measures were to demonstrate intra- and intergroup variability.

Results

Fifty patients (100 sides) were divided into four groups. This included 23 males and 27 females with a mean age of 24.1 years. Significant intergroup variability was observed between all the parameters that demonstrate the relative position of the GPF to (i) the maxillary second molar and (ii) the posterior maxilla. The analysis revealed that the GPF was positioned significantly anterior in Class 2 patients when compared with Class 3 patients.

Conclusion

The GPF exhibits significant positional variability in different facial skeletal relationships which should be borne in mind while designing and performing the Trimble's modification of the Lefort 1 osteotomy.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of senior dental students toward management of complications in exodontia

Introduction

Dental graduates have a professional responsibility of being competent in managing the complications in exodontia, a very commonly performed procedure.

Aim

The aim of this paper was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of senior dental students toward the management of complications in exodontia.

Materials and Methods

Four hundred dental students participated in the study voluntarily. Verbal consent was obtained after elaborating the purpose of the study. A short validated questionnaire consisting of 12 close-ended multiple choice questions was distributed to all the students. The questionnaires were collected back and results from fully filled questionnaires were tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2007.

Results

Nearly 93.4% of the students perform extractions in their practice on a routine basis. Among those 32.5% of the students have encountered complications, out of which only 20% of the students are confident in managing them. The remaining 64.8% of students who have not encountered complications are not confident in managing the same.

Conclusion

This study revealed the need for increase in cases which will in turn help the students to transfer their theoretical knowledge into professional skills.

Three-dimensional Printing in Reconstructive Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Three-dimensional (3D) printing involves the process of constructing a 3D solid object from a digital file. Charles Hull was the first to introduce 3D printer in 1983 by using the technique of stereolithography.¹ Since the 1990s 3D printing has gained attention in the field of medicine where more precision is required and has largely replaced the traditional technique in prosthetic works.^2,3.

Aloe vera in dentistry

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant which has been used for thousands of years. The health benefits of aloe vera is well known and the dental uses of this plant is multiple. Interest is gathering among researchers regarding the use of this plant. Studies have proved the antiseptic, anti inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal properties of aloe vera and the use of this plant is proved beneficial. This plant is proved to be non allergic and very good in building up the immune system. Aloe vera is gaining popularity in dentistry as it is completely natural and there is no side effects being reported with its use. This paper gives an overview of the uses of this miracle plant and its uses in dentistry.

Ancient neurilemmoma: A rare oral tumor

Neurilemmomas are benign tumors of neural origin composed of Schwann cell proliferation in characteristic patterns. Ancient neurilemmomas are usually longstanding growths that exhibit degenerative features that could be mistaken for malignancy. They are extremely rare in the oral cavity and present in older individuals of long duration. The authors report a case of ancient neurilemmoma in a young patient with short duration of growth. This unique case presented with remarkable histopathological features with respect to vascularity and atypia associated with degenerative change. It is essential to not mistake these features as malignant transformation so as to avoid radical procedures.

Granuloma with langhans giant cells: An overview

Granuloma formation with multinucleated giant cells is seen in numerous diseases. A granuloma is a focus of chronic inflammation consisting of a microscopic aggregation of macrophages surrounded by a collar of lymphocytes and plasma cells. In this article, we present a case of granuloma formation with multiple Langhans giant cells along with an overview of the differential diagnoses, which include mycobacterium diseases, other bacterial infections, fungal infections, protozoal infections, and other granulomatous diseases.

Idiopathic multiple impacted unerupted teeth: Case report and discussion

Multiple impacted permanent teeth are usually related to syndromes, metabolic and hormonal disorders. However, in some cases, impaction of multiple teeth is not associated with any syndrome. In this report, we present a case of 17-year-old male patient with missing teeth. Radiographs revealed multiple impacted permanent teeth, though medical and family history along with physical examination was not suggestive of any syndromes. If other investigations are negative, an idiopathic case of multiple impacted teeth is suggested to be the possible diagnosis. The objective of this report is to increase awareness of such cases especially in the absence of hereditary/genetic/metabolic factors usually inherent in such scenarios. The patient management in such cases needs to be planned specifically from a multidisciplinary standpoint.

Dentigerous cyst associated with an ectopic third molar in the maxillary sinus: a rare entity

Ectopic eruption of teeth into a region other than the oral cavity is rare although there have been reports of teeth in the nasal septum, mandibular condyle, coronoid process, palate, chin and maxillary sinus. Occasionally, a tooth may erupt in the maxillary sinus and present with local sinonasal symptoms attributed to chronic sinusitis. We present a case of an ectopic maxillary third molar tooth that caused chronic purulent sinusitis in relation to the right maxillary sinus.