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Background. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to increase the generation of antimicrobial peptides like cathelicidin and defensins that may have a good impact on oral health. Higher vitamin D consumption has also been linked to a reduced risk of periodontal disease progression. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical and laboratory parameters of oral supplementation of vitamin D as an adjuvant to scaling and root planing and to assess the bone mineral density via qualitative ultrasound bone density scanner in chronic periodontitis patients. Methodology. This study included 40 patients with periodontitis categorized into 2 groups with twenty patients each, Group I comprising scaling and root planing (SRP) alone and Group II comprising SRP along with vitamin D supplementation. Plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment loss was measured as clinical parameters. Serum vitamin D levels were assessed before and after SRP at both baseline and 6 weeks. Results. The intergroup comparison of clinical parameters (PI, GI, PPD, and CAL) at 6 weeks for both the groups showed statistical significance. Intragroup comparison of clinical parameters from baseline to 6 weeks showed a statistically significant reduction in both groups. The mean bone mineral density level in both the control and test groups demonstrated a mean T score of –1.3 and –1.21, respectively. The mean vitamin D levels were 27.8460 and 28.1020 for the test and control groups, respectively, which was statistically insignificant (p = 0.705) and those at six-week intervals improved to 31.3650 and 28.0240 which were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion. It could be stated that a positive relationship exists between periodontitis and osteopenia which could aggravate periodontal destruction. All periodontitis cases should thus be evaluated for BMD and supplemented with vitamin D3 in an appropriate dosage and time frame to treat both these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has made dentists very assiduous about cross-infection during dental treatment, thereby delaying dental radiographs for treatment. However, patients needing dental emergency treatment in the ongoing pandemic require relevant intra/extraoral dental radiography for adequate diagnosis and treatment planning. Methods. This article is aimed at adding to the hot debate: Is delay for intraoral radiographs justified or a possible proxy? As a narrative review, it provides an insight into the reasons for delaying intra-oral dental radiographs during in the pandemic and options of the nontraditional radiographic techniques available until the pandemic subsides. Discussion and Conclusion. Cross-contamination concerns through respiratory droplets grow while using intraoral film holders that stimulate gag reflex, coughing, saliva secretion, and if proper disinfection protocols are not applied. Since the patients' acquiring emergency dental treatment cannot be neglected, the return-to-work guidelines by the health regulatory bodies urge to prioritize extraoral radiographic imaging techniques to curb the infection, offering the best diagnostic efficacy. The dental professionals can consider cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and sectional dental panoramic radiographs (SDPRs), followed by a risk assessment for COVID-19, a safer modality in reducing cross-contamination and assuring an innocuous environment for both patient and coworkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the applicability of Pont's Index in a Malaysian population by obtaining baseline measurements of dental arch shape based on premolar arch width, molar arch width and the combined width of the maxillary incisors. A secondary aim was to determine whether a correlation exists between arch widths, Pont's Index and the facial framework., Methods: Ninety subjects of mixed racial backgrounds had maxillary dental casts made, measured and selected craniofacial anthropometric measurements taken. Arch widths were compared between the measured and the predicted values derived from Pont's formula. A comparative analysis was performed between interpremolar and intermolar widths and the craniofacial anthropometric measurements. Comparative statistics were applied., Results: The average interincisal measurement, interpremolar and intermolar widths were 30.31 +/- 2.49 mm, 36.67 +/- 2.50 mm and 45.21 +/- 2.90 mm respectively. No significant differences were detected between the races. The interincisal measurement in males was significantly lower than for females but male intermolar width was significantly higher than for females. The average predicted interpremolar width (37.89 +/- 3.1 1 mm) and intermolar widths (47.36 +/- 3.89 mm) were higher than the actual measured means, suggesting that Pont's Index overestimated interpremolar and inteimolar widths in the majority of Malaysians. The premolar index (83.34) and molar index (67.71) of the Malaysians were higher than the original Pont's Indices. Significant correlations were noted for intermolar width with facial width, mandibular width, mandibular depth and mouth width., Conclusion: The findings suggest that Pont's Index should not be applied to the Malaysian population.