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Seventy-one adult skulls (58 dentulous skulls: 56 bilateral and 2 unilateral, 13 edentulous: 11 bilateral and 2 unilateral) of unknown sex were examined for the variations of the location of the greater palatine foramen. The location of greater palatine foramen (GPF) was noted with relation to mid sagittal suture (MSS), posterior palatal border (PPB), and maxillary molars by measuring the distances using a sliding caliper to the nearest millimeter. Difference in the distance of the foramen from MSS and PPG in both the skull types was found to be statistically insignificant. Commonest location of the foramen was found to be opposite to third molar tooth (85.95%), followed by the interval between second and third molar teeth (13.15%), and opposite to the second molar tooth (only one case - 0.88%). Well-formed bony canals were found along the groove for the palatine nerves and vessels unilaterally in the right side in two skulls. These observation may be of help to the dental surgeon during the peripheral block of maxillary nerve for the maxillo-facial surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the palatine rugae pattern of Mysorean and Tibetan subjects, to assess the predominant palatine rugae pattern in Mysorean and Tibetan population, and to determine the uniqueness of palatine rugae pattern in an individual. MATERIALS: Maxillary study models of 60 subjects each (30 males and 30 females) of age group 17-23 years, of Mysorean population and Tibetan population were assessed for the length, shape, and unification of rugae based on the classification by Lysell et al. The palatine rugae were compared for the above mentioned parameters. 2 way ANOVA and Chi square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that males had significantly more number of total rugae on the right compared to the left side in both populations. Indian males had more primary rugae on the left side as compared to females and vice versa for the Tibetan population. Also, Indian males had more number of curved rugae on both right and left sides than Tibetan males and Tibetan females had more wavy rugae on right and left sides than Indian females. In other aspects, no significant difference or association was found. CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant association between the total number of rugae and the gender in both the study populations exists. Parameters like the length and shape of the rugae show racial differences.

The present study was planned to evaluate the position of the mandibular foramen (MF) and the course of the inferior alveolar nerve in 12 right and 14 left cadaveric hemimandibles. The soft tissue including the muscle attachments of the mandible was cleaned and the inferior neurovascular bundle was dissected up to the MF. The distances from the MF to the angle, symphysis menti, 3rd molar, and the lower point of the mandibular notch were measured. The bone was chiseled from its lingual surface to expose the mandibular canal. The distances from the nerve to the alveolar and inferior borders were measured. The distance from the MF to different landmarks did not show any side differences except the one to the symphysis menti (P

The incidence of the bony bridging of the mylohyoid groove of the mandible was studied in a collection of two hundred and twenty five south Indian mandibles. The bony bridging was noticed in 6.39% of the mandibles studied. The incidence of this trait shows a wide range of variation among the different population groups of India. The bony bridging of the mylohyoid may be useful as a non-metric trait in population studies when used in combination of other non-metric traits.

The ligual of mandible is a tongue shaped bony projection on the medical surface of the ramus close to the posterior margin of the mandibular foramen. Since the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen to supply the strctures of the lower jaw, the relationship of lingula to the inferior alveolar nerve is of clinical significance to dental surgeons. It becomes a necessety to know the morphology of linguls so as to preserve the important structures during surgical interference of mandible around the lingula region. The present study was undertaken mainly to establish the frequency of various morphological types of lingula in adult human mandibles of South Indian background. The material for this study comprised of a collection of 147 (294 sides) dry adult human mandibles. In each mandible, the lingula was scored using the classification proposed by Tuli et al (2000). More frequently observed bilaterally were the Truncated and Nodular types. These two types occurred more frequently unilaterally as well. The assimilated type, whether unilateral or bilateral was more or lesws similar in frequency along with other non metric variants of the skull, morphological types of lingula can also be useful as anthropological marker to assess population and recial distances.

An investigation study on sex identity through mandibular canine index directed to detect sexual dimorphism using the Mesio-Distal width of mandibular permanent canines and inter canine and inter canine arch width in the mandible was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere. 360 patients were subjected to the mesio-distal measurement and inter canine arch width. Males were detected correctly in 83.3% and in females 81%. They were statistically significant and the related literatures reviewed.

Tubercle of Carabelli is a dental morphologic trait found on the mesiopalatal surface of maxillary deciduous second molar and maxillary permanent first molar crowns. Tooth with Tubercle of Carabelli is susceptible to dental caries. Tubercle of Carabelli also interferes with banding techniques during fixed orthodontic therapy. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of this dental morphologic variation with its forms of expressivity in the maxillary deciduous second molars and maxillary permanent first molars and also to determine the dichotomous nature of this trait. Study models of 648 subjects were evaluated for the presence of the trait and its expression. 67.5% of maxillary deciduous second molars and 52.77% of maxillary permanent first molars displayed the trait. There is predominance among females in the prevalence in the maxillary deciduous second molars. Mild and moderate forms expressed in maxillary deciduous second molars is mostly the same as that of maxillary permanent first molars.

Comparative anatomical descriptions have been time and again mentioned in the literature. Based on these aspects, an attempt is made to correlate the morphological features of the human teeth, the zodiac sun signs and numerology. This unique study (first ever of its kind) is also done with a purpose as to whether a particular ′Zodiac Sunsign′ or numerology can predict about an individual dental health, the same way the future predictions are being made. It was quite interesting to note that there are few definite attributable dental morphological traits and health to the specific sun signs and numerology.

Clearing techniques of tooth have long since been advocated in the demonstration of root canal anatomy. We have compared the efficacy of various clearing agents such as Xylene, Benzene, Methyl salicylate and Eugenol, using 40 maxillary second premolars as experimental subjects. We have further tried to select a suitable dye for the demonstration of root canal anatomy and have compared the efficacy of various mounting media such as D.P.X. medium, Canada balsam and Commercial plastic dissolved in benzene, in preserving the cleared state. Results of our study indicate that Eugenol is a superior clearing agent and that oil-based dyes are better suited for root canal demonstration. Canada balsam is the most effective mounting media and D.P.X. medium has been found to serve both as a clearing agent and as a mounting media. We have introduced a miniature museum jar technique, for preserving the transparency permanently. The Transparent Tooth Model System presented here, thus serves as a much simpler tool, in the study of root canal anatomy, three dimensionally.

To compare the dental arch forms of Indian and Chinese subjects, 30 untreated Indian and 30 untreated Chinese adults with normal occlusion and symmetrical arches were examined. The arches were classified as narrow, wide, mid, pointed and flat, according to the method developed by Monique Raberin etal., from Lyon, France. For the sample examined the Chinese population was found to have significantly wider arches compared to the Indian population.

The coronoid process (meaning crow) is a flattened triangular bony process of the ramus of the mandible. It is usually directed upwards and slightly forwards in the living subject. The coronoid process is of clinical significance to the maxillofacial surgeon for reconstructive purposes. Several authors have described the varying shapes of the process. In the present study, the variable shape and surface area of the coronoid process were observed in a collection of 154 south Indian mandibles. Using the criterion proposed by Isaac and Holla (2001), the coronoid process of each side was inspected for the shape and direction, and surface area of the ramus and the coronoid process was also calculated. The shape of the coronoid process was bilaterally triangular in 16.2%, hook-shaped in 45.5%, rounded in 18.2% rounded and hook-shaped in 4.5%, and unilaterally triangular in 12.3%, hook-shaped in 11.7%, and rounded in 7.1% of the mandibles. The coronoid processes faced directly upward in 55.4%, forward in 40.7% and backward in 3.8% of the mandible.

The present in-vitro study was undertaken to know root canals and their configuration (type, curvature, number of apical foramen etc) in maxillary second permanent molar. Separately, fifty teeth by radiographic method and by decalcification method were studied. Radiologically in mesiobuccal root, two root canals were found in 78% and 20% of the specimens in mesiodistal and buccolingual direction respectively. In the distobuccal root, 2 root canals were seen in 4% and 6% of the specimen in mesiodistal and buccolingual direction respectively. Two root canals also varied in both radiological as well as decalcification methods. It is concluded from the present study that mesiobuccal roots of maxillary second molar exhibited anatomical variations and aberrant findings in the root canals. More care should always be exercised to locate the extra canal in these roots.

Anaesthetists at times encounter difficult intubation in an apparently normal individual in spite of using the best possible positioning and most profound relaxation. This study was carried out to find out the most simple and easy measurement that may predict a difficult intubation. The study was conducted in three groups of patients of twenty each. The first group consisted of patients in whom intubation was easy. Second group consisted of anticipated difficult intubation. Cases in whom very difficult intubation was encountered were analyzed retrospectively and were included in third group. An attempt has been made to predict difficult intubation with the roentgenographic study of lateral view of mandible along with the measurement of distance from chin to thyroid cartilage. Of all the parameters, ratio of effective mandibular length to posterior mandibular depth and distance from chin to thyroid cartilage were found to be important to predict difficult intubation.

In human ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, bones arrive late on the scene--long after neurogenesis, musculogenesis, organogenesis and so on are over--as islands of ossification in an ocean of collagen. This study confirms this developmental sequence by demonstrating, in cadavers, the rather independent nature of bone, to which nothing--muscle, tendon, ligament or articular cartilage--is attached. Bone is like the air in a tubeless tyre; it gives rigidity and shape to the tyre, and in return takes the shape of the tyre. The tibia, for example, is the bony tissue that is contained in tyre-like casing made of peritibial soft tissues whose inner limit is the periosteum, which continues proximally and distally as capsules of knee/ankle joint, and to which only are the articular cartilages of the knee and ankle attached, being clearly free from the bones. This study also exposes the truer nature of a joint wherein the articular cartilage assumes anatomic and physiologic significance hitherto unthought of.

A cadaveric dissection study of 54 upper extremities to determine the incidence of occurrence, morphology and relations of the occasional head of the flexor pollicis longus muscle is presented. The occasional head of the flexor pollicis longus muscle was found to be present more frequently (66.66%) than absent. It mainly arose from the medical epicondyle of the humerus (55.55%) and the medial border of the coronoid process of the ulna (16.66%). It was found to be in close association with the median nerve (anteriorly) and the anterior interosseous nerve (posteriorly). The clinical implications of these findings are discussed viz. entrapment neuropathies of the median and anterior interosseous nerves, cicatricial contraction of the occasional head leading to flexion deformity of the thumb and the likely necessity to lengthen/release the occasional head in spastic paralysis of the flexor pollicis longus muscle.

The present in-vitro study was undertaken to understand root canals and their configuration in buccal roots of maxillary first permanent molar. Seventy five teeth were studied by the radiographic method and 78 teeth were studied by the decalcification method. Radiographically, in mesiobuccal root, 2 root canals were observed in 81.3% and 18.7% of the specimens in mesiodistal and bucco-lingual direction respectively. In 1.3% of the specimens, 3 root canals were seen in the mesiodistal direction. Radiographically, in distobuccal root, 2 root canals were seen in 9.3% and 1.3% of the specimens in mesiodistal and buccolingual direction respectively. By the decalcification method, 2 root canals were found in mesiobuccal root in 65.4% of the specimens; distobuccal root exhibited 1 canal in 100% of the specimens studied. The configuration (shape) of buccal root canals also varied in both radiological as well as decalcification methods Many specimens exhibited curved canals and in some specimens S-shaped canals were observed. It is concluded from this study that more attention should be directed towards searching for and locating the second root canal in the mesiobuccal root of maxillary first permanent molar.