Background: Women at menopausal period may frequently develop several oral mucosal disorders. Xerostomia is also a common finding among postmenopausal women. The present study was conducted to assess effect of menopause on saliva and dental health. Materials and Methods: Forty postmenopausal women (Group I) and 40 control (Group II) underwent Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHIS), Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT index), Community periodontal index (CPI), and Loss of attachment (LOA), salivary pH and flow measurement. Results: Oral symptoms were normal in 22 and 40, xerostomia in 18 and 0 in Group I and II respectively, salivary pH was normal in 20 and 40, below acidic in 20 and 0, salivary flow was normal in 21 and 40, hyposalivation in 19 and 0 in group I and II, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). OHI-S was good in 4 and 25, fair in 6 and 10, poor in 30 and 5, DMFT index was decayed was 1.42 and 0.65, missing was 2.84 and 0.26 and filled was 1.06 and 0.52 seen in Group I and II respectively. CPI index mean value was 3.26 in Group I and 1.02 in Group II and mean LOA was 1.42 and 0.46 in Group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There was decrease in the salivary pH and flow rate in postmenopausal women which in turn leads to increased OHI-S, DMFT, CPI, and LOA.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an orthodontic toothbrush in comparison to a normal toothbrush. Materials and methods:The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received Colgate orthodontic brushes for oral hygiene maintenance whereas, and group B received normal toothbrush. Data of the patients regarding their age, sex, type of toothbrush, gingival index (GI), and plaque index (PI) were collected. Results:The average plaque index of group A using an orthodontic brush before orthodontic brackets were 1.37, and two months after bonding was 1.48. The average plaque index what patients using a conventional brush before putting brackets was 1.41, and 1.67 at the end of two months. The gingival index in group A at the baseline was 1.44 and 1.48 at the end of two months. Similarly, the gingival index of group B at baseline was 1.46 and 1.72 at the end of two months. Conclusion:There is no significant difference in the clinical efficacy of both the type of brushes in the patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Background: Release of metallic ions, especially nickel and chromium, present in orthodontic fixed appliance attachments such as brackets and archwires has been a basis of concern in current years. The present study was conducted to assess nickel and chromium level in gingival crevicular fluid in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment were divided into 2 groups of 20 each. Group I was fixed orthodontic treatment group and was given nonfluoridated toothpaste and Group II was fixed orthodontic treatment group and was given fluoridated toothpaste. The assessment of salivary nickel and chromium levels was done using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: In group I, there were 6 male and 14 female and in group II 7 males and 13 females. The mean nickel level (ng/ml) before treatment in group I was 0.49 and in group II was 0.52, on 7th day was 0.52 and 0.54, on 30th day was 13.4 and 100.2, and on 6th month was 0.54 and 0.52 in Group I and II, respectively. The mean chromium level (ng/ml) before treatment in Group I was 0.48 and in Group II was 0.52, on 7th day was 0.52 and 0.53, on 30th day was 40.6 and 62.4 and on 6th month was 4.9 and 0.52 in Group I and II, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The release of metal ions such as nickel and chromium was more with fluoridated toothpaste as compared to nonfluoridated toothpaste in patients undergoing fixed orthodontics.

Background and Aim: Iatrogenic injuries to inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) are a well known complication of implant placement, osteotomies and other surgical procedures. This study was at attempted to determine the most common position of the mental foramen and to estimate difference in position of mental foramen, occurrence of anterior loop and to evaluate the variation in the location of mandibular canal using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs. Materials & Methods: A total of 205 north Indian subjects were selected during a period of two years. Formerly exposed CBCT images of the selected subjects were studied by ‘iCAT Vision’ and ‘Anatomage’ Software. Measurements from the mandibular canal to the root apices of the first premolar, second premolar, first molar and second molar were obtained. Likewise the distance from the inferior alveolar canal to the buccal cortical plate (BCP) and lingual cortical plates (LCP) were also studied. The estimation of the horizontal and vertical positioning of mental foramen on the CBCT images was also done on both sides. Other inter-related dimensional parameters were also studied comprehensively. The incidence of Anterior Loop (AL) was also assessed and comparisons were done among both sides of the jaw and gender. Statistical Analysis and Results: A total of 205 subjects comprising of 108 (52.7%) males and 97 (47.3%) female participated in the study. The Unpaired t-test showed a statistically significant difference among males and females in the measurements of IAC. Among males Linear, Perpendicular and Anterior loop pattern was seen in 64 (59.3%), 34 (31.4%) and 10 (9.3%) subjects respectively. Among males prevalence of right sided anterior loop (Mental Foramen) was 10 (30.3%), left sided anterior loop was 10 (30.3%). The Unpaired t-test showed a statistically non-significant difference among males and females. (p>0.5) Anterior loop was seen on 17 (51.5%) occasions on the right side and 16 (48.5%) occasions on the left side. The Pearson’s Chi-square test showed a statistically non-significant difference among the genders on the right side. Conclusion: The most common configurations alveolar canal was the linear pattern followed by perpendicular pattern. Most frequent location of mental foramen was in continuity with second premolar in both the left and right sides as well as in both the genders. The anterior loop was the least common pattern of inferior alveolar canal.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate and establish norms for the class I subjects of Uttarakhand population using the Steiners Analysis. Aims and Objectives: 1. To Establish Cephalometric norms for population in Uttarakhand Using Anteroposterior and Vertical Dimensions. 2. To Compare the hard and soft Tissue Cephalometric Norms of Individuals of Uttarakhand by Steiners Analysis. 3. To Compare male and female cephalometric norms of individuals of Uttarakhand. Materials and Method: The sample included pre-treatment lateral cephalograms of 60 subjects belongIng to Uttarakhand and possessing a skeletal class I malocclusion with pleasing profile (age 11-36 years). Results: The Mean values obtained fro the male and female subjects were compared to that of caucasian Populations and statistical different obtained were used to create a new value for the Uttarakhand Population. Conclusion: Beta angle is relatively a stable parameter in population with different ethnicities.