The aim of this study is to comprehensively review and analyse pure odontogenic maxillofacial space infections in a tertiary care hospital in Navi Mumbai over a period of 5 years. Methods A retrospective analysis of 315 patients treated at Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital at Nerul, Navi Mumbai, from January 2007 to December 2011 was done. Multiple variables were analysed. Localised infections like dentoalveolar infections without space involvement and infection of non-odontogenic cause were excluded from the study. Results Analysis of the records was done. Majority of patients were from lower socioeconomic background and were daily wage workers who had either consulted a general physician or a general dental practitioner or had selfmedicated themselves before presenting to us with acute symptoms. Early recognition and prompt treatment involving intravenous antibiotics with extraction of involved tooth/teeth and incision and drainage helped in resolution of infections in a span of 72 h. Medically compromised patients had longer duration of hospital stay as compared to the patients who had no underlying medical condition. Majority of space infections involved multiple spaces and local anaesthesia with sedation was found to be the satisfactory mode of anaesthesia. Complications were very few. ConclusionWe concurred that any form of odontogenic maxillofacial space infection should be rendered prompt and aggressive treatment and hospitalisation should be recommended wherever required.

Introduction Palatal injection, in spite of many modernized injection techniques, remains a painful experience for the patient. The aim of this study was to demonstrate if maxillary third molars could be extracted using only buccal infiltration of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride (HCl) with adrenaline 1:80,000 without the need for supplemental palatal injection. Materials and methods Three hundred patients were selected randomly and divided into two groups of 150 each. In the experimental group, 2 ml of 2% lignocaine hydrochloride with 1:80000 adrenaline was injected into the buccal vestibule of the tooth to be extracted. Extraction was performed after a waiting period of 7 minutes postinjection. Equal number of 150 patients were used as control and were subjected to the same protocol, with additional palatal injection. Pain experienced during extraction of both groups were recorded using visual analog scale and faces pain scale. Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze pain between both the groups. Results Statistical analysis of the two groups, experimental and control groups do not defer with respect to visual analog and faces pain score. Conclusion Palatal injection for extraction of maxillary third molar is not mandatory. How to cite this article Pawar S, Desai RA, Padhye M, Shevale V, Khosa R, Keswani E, Thakker S, Shah V. Palatal Injection: A Myth or a Reality in Maxillary Third Molar Extraction. World J Dent 2014;5(1):28-32.

Introduction: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the most active joint of the body. Limitations of the mouth opening can be caused by bony or fibrous ankylosis of the TMJ as a sequela to trauma, infection, autoimmune disease or failed surgery. A significant effect of TMJ ankylosis is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which can progressively worsen and the symptoms associated with OSA can dominate sidelining the primary disorder itself. Aim/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the use of conventional rotary bur technique and piezosurgery unit for gap arthroplasty in TMJ ankylosis. Method Used: Twenty patients were examined clinically and radiologically for the treatment. Out of the twenty patients, ten patients were operated using conventional rotary bur technique (Group A) and the remaining ten patients were operated using piezosurgery unit (Group B). Two major parameters that is blood loss and duration of surgery were evaluated intraoperatively and other parameters like pain, mouth opening, swelling and paraesthesia were evaluated on Post Operative Day (POD)-1, 5, 10, 15. Result: We observed that there was a significant reduction in blood loss intraoperatively with the piezosurgery unit though the operating time was prolonged. Post-operative physiotherapy had increased the inter-incisal distance in both groups. Pain levels and swelling were significantly higher in Group A. Other complications like paresthesia were not observed in either of the groups. Conclusion: This comparative study suggests piezosurgery can be a valuable alternative method to the bur technique due to its efficacy in the evaluated parameters.

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In the last decade, nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary canal instruments have proved to be valuable for root canal therapy because of their exceptional ability to shape root canals with poten tially fewer procedural complications. The purpose of this clinical update article is to bring clinicians up to date with the current and popular endodontic rotary NiTi instru ment systems.