Walking Molar – A radiographic Presentation

Dilaceration is the result of a developmental anomaly in which there has been an abrupt change in the axial inclination between the crown and the root of a tooth. It is seen involving both the permanent and primary dentitions. Root canal curvatures may be apical, gradual, sickle-shaped, severe-moderate-straight curve, bayonet / S-shaped curve and dilacerated curve. Curved root canals exhibit great difficulty in cleaning, shaping and obturation of the root canal system. This mandates routine periapical radiographs which aid the clinician in assessing these morphological variations in the root canal system. This article highlights a rare presentation of dilacerated distal root of left mandibular first molar resembling radiographically as walking molar in 17-year-male patient

Interdependence of antioxidants and micronutrients in oral cancer and potentially malignant oral disorders: a serum and saliva study.

In our previous studies we have evaluated the role of antioxidants and trace elements in potentially malignant disorders and cancers of the oral cavity, taking into consideration the importance of antioxidants as biomarkers in cancer detection. We felt that other than evaluation, the correlation and interdependence that existed among antioxidants and trace elements require further evaluation in order to develop a better understanding.Serum and salivary zinc, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase levels were evaluated in 65 healthy controls, 115 subjects with potentially malignant oral disorders, and 50 subjects with oral squamous cell carcinoma, using the atom absorption photometry, [5, 5-Dithiobis (2 nitrobenzoic acid)], and nitroblue tetrazolium methods, respectively.Serum zinc and serum glutathione showed significant positive correlation (r=0.76, P=0.01). Similarly, salivary glutathione and salivary zinc levels had a positive correlation (r=0.68, P=0.01). Serum superoxide dismutase showed a strong positive correlation with serum zinc (r=0.64, P=0.01). Similarly, there was a moderate positive correlation between salivary superoxide dismutase and salivary zinc (r=0.67, P=0.01).Our findings showed that trace elements and antioxidants exhibited interdependence in serum, as well as in saliva, in both physiologic and pathologic states such as oral cancer