A beautiful smile definitely enhances the personality of an individual and reveals self-confidence. The harmony of the smile is determined not only by the shape, position, and color of the teeth but also by the gingival tissues. Gingival pigmentation results from melanin granules which are produced by melanoblasts. Although melanin pigmentation of the gingiva is a completely benign condition and does not pose any medical problem, complaints of “black gums” are common particularly in patients having a very high smile line. The different treatment modalities that have been reported for depigmentation are bur abrasion, partial thickness flap, cryotherapy, electrosurgery, and lasers. In this paper we have compared the results of electrosurgery and scalpel technique, i.e., partial thickness flap.

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Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean to prevent dental decay. Cleaning the teeth is the process of removing dental plaque, which mainly consist of streptococcus mutans bacteria. Streptococcus mutans contribute towards tooth decay. Prolonged plaque presence increases the likelihood of cavities, gum diseases and gingivitis. The need for good oral hygiene is obvious and is achieved mostly through brushing the teeth with a fluoride treated toothpaste and toothbrush. The Soladey TM toothbrush differs from conventional toothbrush by utilizing a TiO 2 semiconductor to accomplish the plaque removal assistance of toothpaste. The following article focuses on the function of Soladey TM toothbrush as additional plaque removal force.

The periodontium, defined as those tissues supporting and investing the tooth, comprises root cementum, periodontal ligament, bone lining the tooth socket (alveolar bone), and that part of the gingiva facing the tooth (dentogingival junction). The widespread occurrence of periodontal diseases and the realization that lost tissues can be repaired and, perhaps, regenerated has generated considerable interest in the factors and cells regulating their formation and maintenance. It is important to understand that each of the periodontal components has its very specialized structure and that these structural characteristics directly define function. Indeed, proper functioning of the periodontium is only achieved through structural integrity and interaction between its components. The following review article emphasizes on the development of the periodontium.

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