Association of chronic periodontitis with white blood cell and platelet count: a Case Control Study

Objectives:The objective of the study was to determine whether plasma levels of white blood corpuscles (WBCs) and platelets were altered in patients with chronic periodontitis compared to healthy controls. Study Design:A total of 120 subjects, 60 with chronic periodontitis and 60 with healthy periodontium of age group 30-50 years were selected for the study. Oral hygiene status and pocket probing depth were measured. During cli - nical evaluation, venous blood samples were taken to analyze the WBC and platelet counts. Statistical analysis was utilized to compare differences across various groups. Results:The WBC count was higher in patients with chronic periodontitis when compared with controls whereas the platelet count was lower in the case group. Conclusions:Elevated WBC count plays a key role in chronic periodontitis and in turn a risk factor for cardiovas - cular diseases. However, there is no significant role of platelets in periodontal infection even though it has a major role in atherogenesis

Neurofibroma of Lip: Report of a Rare Case

Neurofibroma is a benign tumor of neural tissue origin. It most frequently involves the skin and rarely the oral mucosa. The nature of the disease has been recognized as hereditary with an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. It has been reported to occur 1 in every 3000 births. The oral lesions occur as discrete, nonulcerated nodules, which tend to be of the same color as the normal mucosa- Usually occurs on the buccal mucosa, palate, alveolar mucosa, vestibule and the tongue. An interesting case of asymptomatic swelling of the lower lip since 20 years is presented. The swelling was gradual in onset and slowly increased in size in the first year of its appearance, there after there was no increase in size of the swelling and it remained stable until the patient reported at our clinic. It was a solitary diffuse, lobulated swelling of lower lip extending distally from left commissure, menially crossing the midline, anteriorly from vermillion border of lower lip, posteriorly extending into labial vestibule. Excisional biopsy was performed and histological examination revealed interlacing fascicles of elongated cells with very dark staining nuclei and focal areas resembling Antoni A pattern, which confirmed the lesion to be neurofibroma of lip

Assessment of age based on the pulp cavity width of the maxillary central incisors

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the age of the patients belonging to the age group of 15 - 55 years, attending the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, St. Joseph Dental College and Hospital, Eluru, based on the radiographic evaluation of the pulp cavity width of the maxillary central incisors. Materials and Methods: The study group comprised of 120 subjects. Intraoral periapical radiographs of the maxillary central incisors were taken for all subjects, using the conventional paralleling angle technique and the pulp cavity width was measured at the cervical and middle third using a digital vernier caliper. The data obtained was subjected to correlation and regression analysis. Results: A negative linear relationship was obtained between the age and pulp cavity width (cervical third, r = -0.459 and middle third, r = -0.704). Cubic regression analysis was done and the regression formulae were obtained. A mean difference of 0.1 years was obtained between the estimated age and real age, indicating the reliability of the derived formula. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the width of the pulp cavity of maxillary central incisors are reliable for estimation of age

Digital cephalometric analysis illustrating morphological variation of the soft palate

Introduction and Objectives: The soft palate plays a vital role in velopharyngeal closure which is strongly dependent on a close coordination of the velum and the contiguous pharyngeal structures. It is reasonable to hypothesize that these structures may have different characteristics to match up to different soft palate morphologies. Considering this, the present study was done to investigate the variation in the morphology of the soft palate. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients belonging to both the genders, in the age group 5-55 years, were selected from the outpatients visiting the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. All the study samples were subjected to lateral cephalogram and the morphology of the soft palate was categorized as described by You et al. Any additional finding was further differentiated as type 7 and so on. The length of soft palate was also evaluated using Sidexis next generation software. The data obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The morphology of soft palate was categorized into eight types. Type 1 was the commonest type observed. The relationship between the different types of soft palate in various age groups was found to be non-significant. The mean length of the soft palate was found to be more in group V (46-55 years). The mean length of soft palate was found to be higher in males. There was a positive correlation between age and type of soft palate. Conclusion: The present study draws a new set of morphological classification for the soft palate

Are we telephoning ourselves to an upcoming danger?

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the effect of mobile phones on salivary flow rate and protein concentration in parotid saliva by comparing the dominant and non-dominant sides of prolonged mobile phone users. Materials and Methods: Parotid saliva was collected simultaneously from both the glands in 50 healthy volunteers by using sialographic cannula. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using paired t-test. Results: Salivary secretion rate was significantly less on the dominant side of mobile phone usage. There was no such significance in protein concentration on comparing the dominant side with the non-dominant side. Conclusion: It was concluded that there was a change in the functional activities of the parotid gland in prolonged mobile phone users