Pier abutment poses a challenge to prosthodontist. Rigid connectors are less than ideal treatment in case of these abutments. Nonrigid connectors have been recommended to reduce the forces as they provide a stress-breaking effect. This case report presents an alternative approach to the management of pier abutment. A 46-year-old female patient with missing teeth involving a pier abutment was rehabilitated with a fixed dental prosthesis with key-keyway connectors. An alternative method of orientation of the connector was used to benefit the patient.

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The aim of this report is to depict the successful management of a discolored central incisor subsequent to endodontic treatment and its follow-up for 1 year. Improper bleaching techniques can lead to cervical resorption and eventual loss of teeth. Management of the discolored endodontically treated tooth can be performed using sodium perborate (SP). A 22-year-old female who had undergone endodontic treatment of the central incisor reported with discolored maxillary central incisor tooth. The case was managed with “walking bleach technique” using SP and water. The case was followed up for 1 year and there was no relapse. Proper selection of bleaching agent and technique had resulted in the conservative and successful management of the case. Appropriate bleaching technique should be selected to manage discolored teeth.

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Background: Corticosteroids are known to reduce inflammation, fluid transudation, and edema. Secreted from the adrenal glands, these compounds have a significant role in maintaining metabolism. One of the essential roles played by steroids is their anti-inflammatory role. Aims and Objectives: This prospective, randomized, crossover, clinical study was conducted with the following aims and objectives: (a) to assess pain, swelling and trismus in patients undergoing surgical removal of impacted third molars, (b) to compare the pain, swelling and mouth opening with injection of submucosal dexamethasone 4 mg administered preoperatively, and (c) to compare the results with similar studies conducted elsewhere. Materials and Methods: The study sample involves 20 patients (40 impacted teeth-split arch) with the following inclusion criteria: Patient's reporting for surgical removal of symptomatic impacted mandibular third molars aged between 18 and 45, impacted mandibular third molar with similar anatomical position, and similar surgical difficulty (Pell-Gregory classification was followed), no allergies to medicines prescribed in the postoperative period, patients who are nonsmokers, nonalcoholics and without any systemic diseases, and not systemically compromised or not under long-term steroid therapy. Syndromic patients, patients with periapical pathologies were excluded from the study. Results: The results of the present study suggest that there is a significant reduction of pain, swelling and improvement in mouth opening following submucosal injection of dexamethasone at the end of the 1^st postoperative day and the results are statistically significant. Conclusion: (a) Corticosteroids decrease pain, edema and swelling by exerting their anti-inflammatory role, (b) there is statistically significant difference in reduction of pain, swelling and improvement of mouth opening at the end of 1^st postoperative day, (c) submucosal injection of dexamethasone is less traumatic, less painful and is effective in limiting postoperative discomfort to the patient, and (d) a similar prospective study is suggested comparing the efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone versus submucosal administration of dexamethasone.

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Background: This is a retrospective study design to assess the incidence of oral cancer in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. The study involves three tertiary care centers primarily involved in oral cancer care. Incidence, type, distribution of oral cancer among age group, gender, region, and site are assessed. Materials and Methods: A self-designed questionnaire assessed the incidence of oral cancer over 10 years among patients visiting tertiary care centers in Southern Saudi Arabia. A total of 2850 files were screened. Demographic data included gender, age group, and the region from where the patient represented. The clinical presentation of the lesion, site, bilateral involvement, and histopathological variant was included in the study. Data are presented as frequency tables and percentages. Results: A total of 94 patients presented with oral cancer. The incidence of oral cancer in Southern Saudi Arabia is 3.29%; 44 (46.8%) were female and rest 50 were male (53.2%). Patients from 8 regions of Southern Saudi Arabia presented with oral cancer. Of the 8 regions, patients from Abha had the highest incidence of oral cancer (20.2%). Clinical presentation varied from the ulcer (59.3%), swelling (19%), ulcer and swelling (12%), and swelling of the neck along with ulcer in primary site (9.6%) in descending order. 37.2% of the patients presented with a lesion in the tongue making it the highest prone site. 91.5% of the patients were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma followed by 5.3% as verrucous carcinoma and 3.5% as sarcoma. The mean follow was 5.3 years. Conclusion: The incidence of oral cancer in Southern Saudi Arabia is 3.29% over 10 years. This is significantly low when compared to similar studies conducted elsewhere. The lower incidence might be attributed to the absence of habits such as betel chewing, pan masala, and gutkha habits normally seen in India and regions around. The presentation of oral cancer is similar to other regions of the world. Surprisingly, females have an almost similar rate of incidence as males though slightly less. This makes it mandatory to assess the habits such as smoking among females more thoroughly. Tongue remains to be the site with the highest incidence which correlates with similar findings in other regions of the world.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to correlate the growth phase of skeletal tissues with the calcification stages of mandibular canine. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study. Anonymized digital orthopantomogram and lateral cephalogram records of 300 pretreatment orthodontic patients aged 8–15 years were collected and analyzed. The calcification stages of right mandibular canine were scored on panoramic radiographs in accordance to the Gleiser and Hunt modified method of assessing tooth mineralization. The growth phase of skeletal maturation was scored on lateral cephalogram in accordance to the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) method proposed by Baccetti et al. Results: A positive significant correlation was attained relating CVM Stages 1, 2, and 3 with mandibular canine calcification Stages 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Conclusion: The calcification stages of mandibular canine can be implemented for assessing the skeletal maturity clinically.

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Aim: This study aims to measure sharpness of a sample of randomly chosen dental explorers (DEs) from King Saud University, College of Dentistry (KSUCD) compared to new ones. Materials and Methods: Sixty DEs were drawn out of random examination kits at KSUCD to be measured as a study group. Ten new DEs were measured to serve as control group. Tip diameter measurements were done for all seventy DEs under digital light microscope (n = 70) (μm). The comparison was done using SPSS (v. 16) at significance level P ≤ 0.05. Results: Mean tip diameter of the study group was 57.58 ± 20.06 while it was 30.34 ± 5.62 for control group. Independent sample t-test shows a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: There is wide variation in tip diameter of study sample and difference in sharpness between study and control DEs. Clinical significance: Dull explorers might negatively affect the clinical judgment of marginal integrity of crowns.

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Metastasis is the most deleterious effect associated with cancer that causes mortality. Metastasis is the migration of cells, either single cell or as collective cell migration (CCM). CCM is the migration of a group of cells attached to each other by cell junctions bounded by “tip cell” and “rear cell.” Migration of cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) occurs by modulation of actin cytoskeleton assembly which is under the controlled by various molecules. Rho-associated protein kinase I, II, podoplanin, paxillin, etc., are few such molecules responsible for mechanical propulsive movement. Proteolysis of extracellular matrix is carried out by matrix metalloproteinase resulting in the formation of micro and macropatterning through which cells migrate in a particular direction. Certain cells such as carcinoma-associated fibroblast are responsible for the formation of micropatterning and release of cytokines for the movement of tumor cells. This review article highlights CCM, especially in the context of OSCC, which is the most important cause of cancer-related deaths in the Indian subcontinent. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of CCM will help us target those pathways responsible for its progression. We attempted to understand the molecular mechanism of CCM, which would enable us to design customized chemoprevention of OSCC.

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Aims: Today, obtaining information through the internet and internet-based teaching has become very popular in all fields of science including health and dentistry. Due to the widespread use of these sites, the accuracy of such information is vital. Content evaluation and technical accessibility of these sites have been investigated in many studies. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing the oral health information available on Persian web sources. Materials and Methods: Persian keywords related to dentistry were searched in different search motors and related websites were identified. A validated checklist designed in two parts and fifty items was used for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation and the design and accessibility of the web source. Data were analyzed descriptively using MS Excel software. Results: Overall, 38 Persian web sources related to oral health and dentistry were verified. Among them, ten did not have accessible information and therefore were excluded. The remaining 28 were analyzed. Dental caries, nutrition and oral health, and information on gingival tissue, respectively, composed 75%, 78.6%, and 67.9% of the available content. Technical properties related to design interface showed a help menu in 82.1% of cases. Conclusion: Overall, many dentistry and oral health weblogs and websites were defected, incomplete and not thrust worthy. Due to the excessive use of such websites, this could be a serious warning for the dental society. Delivery of more accurate information by scientific associations is recommended.

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Solitary gingival growths, the most common finding in the oral mucosa, are usually due to reactive response to local irritation, and one such reactive lesion is peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF). This article is emphasized on a case report of POF in a 28-year-old female in the maxillary premolar region. Clinical presentation, radiographic details, histopathologic features, differential diagnosis, and treatment with regular follow-up are made.

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Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study were to evaluate deformed and fractured instruments in removing gutta-percha (GP) from the root canal using various techniques. Materials and Methods: Root canals of sixty extracted human permanent premolar teeth were prepared and filled with laterally condensed GP and AH26 sealer, and the specimens were incubated for 2 weeks. Then, roots were divided randomly into five groups (12 roots of each group). The root fillings were removed with Gates-Glidden, D-Race instruments, ProTaper Universal Retreatment instruments (alone or with Hedstrom files). Fractured or deformed instruments were noted. The data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test to demonstrate difference between groups. Results: Overall, 35 instruments were fractured or deformed in the study, of them 29 Hedstrom files were deformed. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that all GP removal techniques did not clean the canals completely, but deformity and fracture instruments were more. Maximum Hedstrom files were deformed.

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