The aim was to compare age estimation using Cameriere’s and Demirjian’s methods to chronologic age in children with mixed dentition in a rural population of Kerala. The present study comprised of 10 subjects of age range 7-12 years. Dental age was assessed using Cameriere’s and Demirjian’s methods and was compared to the chronologic age. Panoramic radiographs were used for assessment of dental age. Data were analysed using paired t-test. The mean of difference obtained was 0.92 and the pvalue was 0.172 which showed insignificant difference between the two methods. Cameriere’s method showed a positive linear correlation (0.6393) with chronologic age and was statistically significant (P=0.0171), whereas Demirjian’s method showed a negative correlation (–0.7598) and was statistically insignificant (P=0.9967). The present study indicated that Cameriere’s method is reliable for age estimation in our population and is more accurate than Demirjian’s method.

SUMMARY Ten members of a large family who showed manifestations of either von Hippel-Lindau disease or von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis were examined. Three of 10 members were found to have retinal angiomas which had not been present on fundus examination 3 years previously. These angiomas were associated with ocular and systemic signs of neurofibromatosis. These cases show overlapping manifestations of different phakomatoses and provide support for the concept of a common aetiology for these diseases.In 1923 Van der Hoeve introduced the term 'phakomatoses' to describe a heredofamilial group of diseases characterised by the presence of disseminated hamartomas (Van der Hoeve, 1923 (Fracassi and Parachu, 1935;Chapman et al., 1959;Melmon and Rosen, 1964).The present report adds 3 new cases of von Hippel's disease from a large family ( Fig. 1) (Subject Fig. 1 (Figs. 2, 3, 4). A nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachment sparing the 04

Osteoporosis characterized by low bone mass/osteopenia can be identified using radiomorphometric indices in routine panoramic radiographs. This study estimates the prevalence of osteopenia in 50-80 years age group, using panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mental index (MI) and mandibular cortical index (MCI). PMI, MI and MCI were applied on 36 panoramic radiographs; MI and MCI were compared with PMI. The prevalence of osteopenia was 11.1% with PMI and 44.4% with MCI. Using MI, the prevalence was 2.8% and 33.3% with 3mm and 4.77mm threshold respectively. The prevalence of osteopenia detected was highest using MCI (44.4%). Considering PMI as gold standard, MI with 4.77 mm threshold showed better agreement with PMI.

Radiography plays an important role in detection of interproximal caries. The aim of study is to compare diagnostic ability of photo stimulable phosphor (PSP) with direct measurement using stereomicroscope in detecting proximal caries. Hundred proximal surfaces of 50 extracted human posterior teeth were radiographed with dental X-ray unit. The image receptors used was storage phosphor plate Vista scan (size 2), (time of exposure 0.4 s). Radiographs were interpreted and caries lesions were classified on a 4-point scale suggested by Abesi et al. The teeth were sectioned with diamond disc and were examined under a stereomicroscope with 20x magnification. Diagnostic accuracy of digital image is similar to that observed with stereomicroscope. The PSP plate digital X ray system can effectively be employed for detecting proximal caries as compared to direct observation by stereomicro-scope. Further study with more number of observer/evaluator and large sample size is recommended.

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