Complementary Medicine − A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Oral Diseases

With the increasing concern among patients about the adverse effects of conventional medicines’ increased resistance by bacteria to antibiotics and challenges faced by the medical personnel in managing chronic disease and their symptoms, it is becoming essential for the health professionals to have a sound knowledge of complementary and alternative modalities for the treatment of these chronic ailments. Oral physicians and dental health care professionals also face challenges in the management of few dental conditions as a result of resistance of oral microflora due to drug tolerance leading to persistence of symptoms and emergence of other side effects of conventional therapies. Therefore, it is often necessary for the dentists to be aware of complementary and alternative modalities which are popular, safe, effective, and economical alternative treatment regimen. Complementary medicine comprises treatment modalities such as herbal medicines, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, Ayurveda, aromatherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, magnetic field therapy, ozone therapy, Mora therapy, and many more

Cone-beam computed tomographic illustration of an unusual position of keratocystic odontogenic tumor mimicking a dentigerous cyst: A case report

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an advanced imaging modality, with its application in all branches of dentistry. Of all the imaging modalities available, CBCT, with minimum required exposure, provides the best image quality and helps in arriving at a correct diagnosis and in treatment planning. An odontogenic keratocyst, reclassified as a keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), has an aggressive behavior, is prone to recur, and thus, has been classified as a tumor. Here, we discuss a rare case of a keratocystic odontogenic tumor occurring in the maxilla, with an ectopic tooth position mimicking a dentigerous cyst

Unfolding the Mysterious Path of Forensic Facial Reconstruction: Review of Different Imaging Modalities

Forensic facial reconstruction (FFR) is the technique that combines art and science to recreate the antemortem appearance of an individual in order to recognize and identify the decedent. Over the years, many techniques of FFR and imaging modalities that provide the basic data for FFR have evolved. There is always a considerable debate and confusion regarding the advantages and limitations of these techniques. The aim of this review is to summarize the different techniques of FFR and emphasize the role of radiological techniques including cone beam computed tomography in it

Herbinaturals: A new paradigm in dentistry

Danta Swasthya (oral health) is important for the general kausalya (well being) and relates to the quality of Jivana (life) that extends beyond the functions of the craniofacial complex. Danta Amivacatana (oral diseases) continues to be a major health problem worldwide. In mainstream Ausadha (medicine), new medical treatments are assumed to be ineffective, until they are proved to be useful. In addition, the adverse effects associated with mainstream medicine makes their use less desirable and less reliable by the population. Traditional medicine is a socioeconomic and sociocultural heritage, serving approximately 80% of the population of developing countries. Heterogeneity, easy availability, enduring recognition, popularity and fewer adverse side effects are some of the key lineaments of traditional Ausadha. This review attempts to introduce several widely used traditional medicines and plant extracts for treating oral diseases, with a highlight on tooth soap, one of the most unrevealed herbal alternative to tooth paste

Palatal mucormycosis masquerading as bacterial and fungal osteomyelitis: A rare case report

Mucormycosis is an acute, fulminating, fungal disease that frequently involves oral, cranial, and facial structures. It is an opportunistic fatal infection which occurs in debilitating and immunosuppressive states. This report documents a rare case of localized maxillary mucormycosis in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes, with emphasis on early and prompt diagnosis of the same

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Micronuclei in the Buccal Mucosal Cells of Individuals Associated with Tobacco

Introduction: Micronucleus/micronuclei) have the potential to serve as an important biomarker in exfoliated cell. Exfoliated buccal mucosal cells can be evaluated using MN assay which can be applied to individuals practicing tobacco habits and are at risk of developing oral cancer. Material and Methods: 80 tobacco users and 20 non tobacco users as control were included in the study. Smears were taken and stained with H&E, feulgen, acridine orange. MN was counted using criteria given by Tolbert et al. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: MN higher in tobacco users. The values obtained for the MN count in tobacco chewers using these stains were statistically significant (P<0.05). The values obtained for the MN count in tobacco smokers using these stains were statistically significant (P<0.05). Qualitatively a good score for staining intensity; MN outline and nuclear outline was obtained for acridine orange, followed by H&E and feulgen stain. Discussion: In our study quantitatively, MN was counted in maximum number using H&E stain, followed by acridine orange and feulgen. Qualitatively, MN count was best viewed using acridine orange stain under a fluorescence microscope, followed by H&E and feulgen under a light microscope. Conclusion: Assessment of MN in exfoliated cells is a promising tool to study epithelial carcinogens in the oral cavity

Human urinary metabolomics as biomarkers in tobacco users: A systematic review

Aim: Urine as a biofluid has been rarely used as a diagnostic fluid in oral diseases. The article aims to systematically review the utility of human urinary carcinogen metabolites as an approach for obtaining important information about tobacco and cancer. Materials and Methods: The following article reviews the use of urine and its metabolites as biomarkers in various lesions of the oral cavity including oral squamous cell carcinoma and as a screening method in evaluating tobacco and its components. A bibliographic comprehensive search was carried out in the main databases: PUBMED, SciELO, Google Scholar, VHL, and LILACS for articles that were published from 1985 to 2020. The inclusion criteria were “urinary metabolites,” “oral cancer/HNSCC,” “body fluids,” “tobacco,” and “metabolomics.” A total of 55 articles were collected which included laboratory studies, systematic reviews, and literature of urinary metabolites in tobacco users. Results: Most of the studies carried out show accurate results with high sensitivity of urinary metabolite biomarkers in individuals with tobacco-based habits and lesions caused by them. Conclusion: The review indicates that urinary metabolite analysis demonstrates its applicability for the diagnosis and prognosis of disease. Urine is a remarkable and useful biofluid for routine testing and provides an excellent resource for the discovery of novel biomarkers, with an advantage over tissue biopsy samples due to the ease and less invasive nature of collection

Diagnostic efficacy of color Doppler ultrasound in evaluation of cervical lymphadenopathy

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) in differentiating benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes by detecting differences in blood flow patterns. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective study, 25 untreated patients with clinical evidence of cervical lymphadenopathy were evaluated. CDUS was performed for 80 cervical lymph nodes. The gray scale parameters of the lymph node and intranodal perfusion sites were the key CDUS features used to differentiate between reactive and metastatic lymph nodes. Histopathological confirmations were obtained and compared with the results of CDUS. Results: Initially, 53 cervical lymph nodes were evaluated by clinical examination. Twenty-seven additional lymph nodes (53 + 27 = 80) were discovered by CDUS evaluation. Gray scale parameters for lymph nodes such as size of lymph node, shape of lymph node, and presence or absence of hilum revealed highly significant results (P < 0.0001). Color Doppler flow signals revealed that central/hilar flow was characteristic for benign nodes whereas peripheral/mixed flow was characteristic for malignant nodes, the findings were highly significant (P < 0.0001). Gray scale and color Doppler features are used to differentiate benign and malignant nodes. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, CDUS evaluation was found to be highly significant with a high sensitivity and specificity over clinical evaluation CDUS examination provides a prospect to reduce the need for biopsy/fine needle aspiration cytology in reactive nodes