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Aim: This study aimed to study the overall incidence of DA and its association with Sella Turcica bridging (STB). Background: Dental anomalies (DA) are associated with morphological changes in the Sella Turcica (ST). Materials and Methods: We retrieved the pretreatment patient records from March 2018 - March 2020 from the archives of the Orthodontics Department (n=806). We excluded the records with missing radiographs, concomitant cleft lip/ palate, history of surgical repair of cleft lip/ palate or any other craniofacial anomaly, history of trauma, and prior orthodontic treatment. A total of 676 patient records were included for initial screening, out of which 103 patients had DA (study group). A similar number of records (n=103) without any DA were randomly selected to constitute a control group. Determination of the extent of STB was done by calibrated and trained examiner. Age and sex were also recorded. Results: The incidence of DA was 15.24%. The most common anomalies recorded were impacted canines (6.8%) and hyperdontia (3.7%), followed by agenesis (2.1%) and others. Type III bridging in patients with DA was 22.3%, while being 9.7% in the control group. Type II bridging was observed in 36.8% of patients with DA as compared to 29.1% in the control group. The presence of partial and complete STB in patients with dental anomalies was significantly higher than in the control group (P=0.006). The study group showed significant association with STB (OR: 2.33; P=0.003; 95%CI: 1.33-4.11) after adjusting for sex. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a significant association between STB and DA.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to validate an Indian translation of the Family Impact Scale (FIS) questionnaire and assess the impact of malocclusion on the families of adolescent school children between 12 and 15 years old across socio-economic strata (SES). Materials and methods: The sample consisted of 768 school children aged between 12 and 15 years from randomly selected schools in Udupi district. The FIS and informed consent forms were sent through the children to be completed by their parents. Information was collected on socio-demographic details, past dental visit in the last year, type of school and SES. Clinical examination for malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index was conducted by a single trained and calibrated examiner. Results: The prevalence of malocclusion was 59.9%. The intra-class correlation for the total FIS score of 0.95 and Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.88 demonstrated internal consistency. There was a significant difference in the overall and subscale scores of FIS between parents of children with and without malocclusion (P < 0.001). Parents of children who had malocclusion had significantly higher FIS scores across all SES (P < 0.001). Parents of children with malocclusion had 1.86 (P < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.60�2.17) times higher FIS scores than parents of children without malocclusion after adjusting for age, gender, SES, and past dental visits in the last year. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the FIS were found satisfactory for assessing the effect of a child’s oral condition on his/her family. Malocclusion in children had a significant negative influence on the family impact scores.

Traumatic human dental injuries involving the pulp might necessitate direct capping procedures. This clinical study aimed to analyse the histological outcomes using two different direct capping materials. Twenty patients with bilateral premolars, scheduled for orthodontic extraction, were selected. The teeth were treated either using ProRoot MTA or RetroMTA. All patients were recalled after 30 and 60 days for teeth extraction. The histopathologically stained specimens were blindly evaluated using hard tissue bridge formation, inflammatory reaction and pulpal findings criteria. Data were evaluated statistically. Results: After 60 days, only the parameter for hard tissue bridge formation showed significant difference in the ProRoot MTA group (p = 0.010), while both direct capping materials performed similarly regarding inflammatory pulp reaction and pulpal findings. Although, during the first 30 days, RetroMTA presented better results in terms of continuity, morphology, hard tissue bridge localisation, and extension/general state of the inflammatory reaction, the continuity was better at 60 days when ProRoot MTA was applied. Treatment with RetroMTA healed the pulpal tissue faster compared with ProRoot MTA but it seemed to be rather a reparative process.

Background. Assessment of age plays an important role in identifying living beings as well as the dead. Comparing different body parts for age estimation, teeth show the least changes after death and can also be checked in living individuals. This helps in forensics as well as in studying growth. Objectives. The aim of this study was assess the age for Indian individuals from mandibular first molars using orthopantogram. Material and Methods. Orthopantograms were obtained from 370 Indian subjects in the age group 6–40 years. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 samples; a study sample (n = 240) and a test sample (n = 130). A regression equation to calculate age was generated from the PCTHR (pulp chamber crown root trunk height ratio) and applied on the test sample to check for reliability of the equation. Results. There was a significant negative correlation between actual age and PCTHR (r = –0.765: p = < 0.0001) in the study group. The regression equation generated from the study sample was calculated age = –94.627 × (PCTHR) + 43.585. When used on the test sample, the calculated age showed no statistically significant difference with the actual age (p = 0.076). The mean difference between actual and calculated age was 3.275 ± 2.188 years. Conclusion. The method of using PCTHR can be applied correctly to assess the age of Indian individuals.

Introduction Mandibular retrognathism is considered to be the most important risk factor for upper airway obstruction. Aim This cross-sectional study intended to examine the relationship between craniofacial morphology and the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in patients with mandibular retrognathism and mandibular prognathism, when compared to normal subjects. The study also analyzed the influence of mandibular morphology on pharyngeal length (PL). Materials and Methods The PAS was assessed in 92 females (age 15-30 years) further divided into three groups - Group 1- normal mandible (76°≤ SNB ≤82°; n = 31); Group 2-mandibular retrognathism (SNB n = 31); Group 3-Mandibular prognathism (SNB >82°; n = 30). All subjects were examined by lateral cephalometry with head position standardized using an inclinometer. Craniocervical angulation, uvula length, thickness and angulation were compared among different groups. Results The results showed no statistically significant difference in the pharyngeal airway between the three groups. Measurements of PL showed statistically significant higher values for retrognathic mandible group than normal and prognathic mandible group. Conclusion There is no significant difference between PAS between patients with mandibular retrognathism, normal mandible and mandibular prognathism. Mandibular retrognathism patients show a significantly higher uvula angulation than patients with mandibular prognathism. Craniocervical angulation showed maximum value in retrognathic mandible group followed by normal and prognathic mandible group respectively. Mean PL for retrognathic mandible patients was significantly higher than prognathic mandible patients.

Objective : To investigate the effect of acidic soft drinks on the breakdown potential of orthodontic archwires in comparison with artificial saliva using the electrochemical technique of anodic polarization. Materials and methods: Five specimens each of 0.019 × 0.025 inch stainless steel, 0.018 inch Australian Special Plus and Premium Plus, 0.018 inch Nickel-Titanium (NiTi), 0.016 inch Elgiloy® and 0.017 × 0.025 inch beta-titanium, in as received form, were subjected to accelerated corrosion by the electrochemical technique of anodic polarization in an electrochemical cell containing 250 ml of artificial saliva (pH-6.7), a phosphoric acid-based beverage [Pepsi® (pH-2.46)] and a citric acid-based beverage [Limca® (pH-2.69)] at room temperature, followed by examination of wire surface under scanning electron microscope. Results: The polarization currents and breakdown potential were seen to rise in the manner; in artificial saliva: Premium Plus > Special Plus (90 mv) > NiTi (180 mv) > stainless steel (560 mv) > Elgiloy® (8-40 mv) > beta-Titanium; in Pepsi®: Premium Plus > NiTi (310 mv) > Special Plus (410 mv) > Elgiloy® (820 mv) > stainless steel (1440 mv) > beta-titanium; in Limca®: Premium Plus > Special Plus (260 mv) > stainless steel (380 mv) > NiTi (410 mv) > Elgiloy® (710 mv) >beta-titanium. Between solutions, artificial saliva was significantly more corrosive than the beverages except with stainless steel wherein Limca® was more corrosive. Between artificial saliva and Limca®, significant differences were noted between all wires except beta-Titanium and Elgiloy®. Between Pepsi® and artificial saliva, significant differences were noted between all wires except in case of beta-Titanium. Between the two beverages, no significant differences were noted in the current densities curves except in case of stainless steel and Elgiloy®. SEM analysis revealed pitting and greater surface changes in Australian wires in all solutions and NiTi in artificial saliva. Conclusion: Under the parameters tested, acidic beverages per se were observed to have a lesser corrosive effect over artificial saliva on orthodontic archwires.

Recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation can cause difficulty in swallowing and speech hence can be distressing for the patient. A 79-year-old male patient reported with recurrent dislocation of TMJ since 2 months. He was on antipsychotic medication for schizophrenia which predisposes to recurrent TMJ dislocation due to oromandibular dystonia. Since the patient had undergone tracheostomy, his systemic condition was not suitable for surgical management. Thus a conservative option of chin cup was planned. The chin cup limits the movement of the mandible hence prevents dislaocation of the TMJ. The patient was successfully rehabilitated with no new episodes of TMJ dislocation for the last 4 months. It focuses on conservative management of recurrent TMJ dislocations induced by antipsychotic drugs.

Orthodontic treatment for patients with unilateral or bilateral congenitally missing lateral incisor poses a challenge mainly with regard to treatment planning. The use of a diagnostic setup is one of the most important aids in the decision-making process. Two alternatives, orthodontic space closure or space opening for prosthetic replacement exist. The present case report shows use of the microimplant for unilateral upper molar distalization and space closure in a Class-II division 1 subdivision malocclusion case with bilateral congenitally missing upper lateral incisors.