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ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of certain oral characteristics usually associated with Down syndrome and to determine the oral health status of these patients.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending a special education program at Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India. The study design consisted of closed-ended questions on demographic characteristics (age, sex, and education and income of parents), dietary habits, and oral hygiene habits. Clinical examination included assessment of oral hygiene according to Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), dental caries according to decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, periodontal status according to the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), and malocclusion according to Angles classification of malocclusion. Examinations were carried out using a using a CPI probe and a mouth mirror in accordance with World Health Organization criteria and methods. Craniometric measurements, including maximum head length and head breadth were measured for each participant using Martin spreading calipers centered on standard anthropological methods.ResultsThe majority of the patients were males (n = 63; 82%) with age ranging from 6–40 years. The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score of the patients indicated that 31% had moderate mental disability and 52% had mild mental disability. 22% exhibited hearing and speech problems.12% had missing teeth and 15% had retained deciduous teeth in adult population. The overall prevalence of dental caries in the study population was 78%. DMFT, CPITN and OHI scores of the study group were 3.8 ± 2.52, 2.10 ± 1.14 and 1.92 ± 0.63 respectively. The vast majority of patients required treatment (90%), primarily of scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene education. 16% of patients reported CPITN scores of 4 (deep pockets) requiring complex periodontal care. The prevalence of malocclusion was 97% predominantly of Class III malocclusions. Further 14% presented with fractured anterior teeth primarily central incisor. The percentage means of cephalic index was 84.6% in the study population. The brachycephalic and hyperbrachycephalic type of head shape was dominant in the Down syndrome individuals (90%).ConclusionThe most common dentofacial anomaly seen in these individuals was fissured tongue followed by macroglossia.

Crania and teeth are considered to be useful adjuncts for sex assessment and in construction of a postmortem profile, however, there is very little information regarding the relationship between tooth and cranial size. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the extent of sexual dimorphism of teeth and cranial size in an adult Indian population and their potential in sex estimation using logistic regression analysis. The sample consisted of 200 subjects (96 males and 104 females; age range of 18-30 years) of Indian origin. Cranial anthropometric measurements i.e. maximum head length and head breadth were measured and cephalic index was calculated. Tooth size (maximum mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions) was measured for all the permanent teeth of the right side of the maxillary and mandibular arches, except the third molars. To ascertain the usefulness of absolute measurements of crania and teeth and the combination of both these parameters in sex prediction, logistic regression analysis was done. The cranial anthropometric measurements gave a sex assessment accuracy ranging from 53.5 to 79.9%, with head length giving the best accuracy. The sex classification accuracy of the odontometric measurements ranged from 61.5 to 76%, with combination of maxillary and mandibular teeth giving better accuracy. The use of both these parameters together vastly improved the accuracy to 88.4%. This study demonstrates that cranial anthropometry along with odontometry could be used for determining the gender of adult Indians in a forensic context. Among all the parameters, head length gave a superior sex prediction alone (79.9%) as well as in combination with odontometry (88.4%).

Background The appearance of pink teeth is a common phenomenon which has been observed after death in certain circumstances on post-mortem examination. Extra fibrinolytic activity of pulp facilitates rapid breakdown of red blood cells and diffusion of hemoglobin and its derivatives to flow into dentine. Methods and results We reviewed various studies on pink tooth phenomenon which have stated the various factors that lead to pink tooth formation. Most of the authors have stressed that post-mortem pink teeth must not be considered as a reliable odontological parameter for determining cause of death. Conclusion No correlation has been found between the occurrence of pink teeth and the cause of death but condition of the surroundings certainly plays an important role in the development of this phenomenon. This paper reviews the factors and conditions responsible for formation of pink teeth.

Background: The study aims to determine variations in craniofacial regions in mentally challenged individuals and to determine prevalence of malocclusion in these individuals. Methods: The malocclusion was identified and craniometric measurements were obtained among patients attending a special education program in Faculty of Dentistry, India. Results: The prevalence of malocclusion in the study population was 83%. Craniometric analysis revealed that brachycephalic, mesocephalic and hyperbracycephalic head shapes in different groups. Conclusion: In India, mentally disabled individuals have a higher prevalence of malocclusion than the general population and assessment of cranial characteristics of these persons may be of help to clinicians and researchers

The appearance of pink teeth is a common phenomenon which has been observed after death in certain circumstances on post-mortem examination. Extra fibrinolytic activity of pulp facilitates rapid breakdown of red blood cells and diffusion of hemoglobin and its derivatives to flow into dentine.We reviewed various studies on pink tooth phenomenon which have stated the various factors that lead to pink tooth formation. Most of the authors have stressed that post-mortem pink teeth must not be considered as a reliable odontological parameter for determining cause of death.No correlation has been found between the occurrence of pink teeth and the cause of death but condition of the surroundings certainly plays an important role in the development of this phenomenon. This paper reviews the factors and conditions responsible for formation of pink teeth.