Abstract:This article aims to discuss the clinical features, radiological assessment, histopathology and management of a variety of odontogenic cysts. It also highlights the reclassification of odontogenic keratocysts to keratocystic odontogenic tumours. Clinical Relevance: Dentists should be aware of the multiple odontogenic cysts that can present in the oral cavity and be able to formulate appropriate management plans. Dental Update 2015; 42: 548-555

Paracetamol is widely used and effective for the management of dental pain in the UK. Acute dental pain is a recognised precipitant of unintentional paracetamol overdose and in a small but significant number of cases this results in hepatotoxicity. Patients' understanding of the risks of excess paracetamol ingestion remains poor and risk of over-medication before presentation is increased due to a variety of factors including dental anxiety and fragmented provision of dental emergency services. Early recognition of overdose is crucial to preventing significant hepatotoxicity and death. Dentists have a role to play in recognising unintentional overdose cases and directing patients timeously to appropriate medical care. Guidelines on the treatment of paracetamol toxicity are readily available but our data suggests some dental settings may present a weak link in the care pathway and overdose may not be readily recognised. We have developed an algorithm and training package targeted at dentists in the acute dental setting with the aim of improving recognition of paracetamol toxicity in adults and directing onward referral appropriately. This paper also revises the key pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of paracetamol and is intended to raise awareness of issues of toxicity for dentists.

The instruction to use warm saline mouth rinse is beneficial in the prevention of alveolar osteitis after dental extractions. There is no significant difference in the efficacy of the twice-daily warm saline mouth rinse regimen compared to the six times daily regimen. The twice-daily saline mouth rinse regimen is more convenient, and patient compliance may be better than with the six times daily rinse routine.

The aspiration of a foreign body is a rare occurrence in adults. We present a case of a missing partial denture, which remained undetected clinically and radiographically at the initial presentation to the accident and emergency department, leading to discharge of the patient with the partial denture still lodged within the oropharynx. This case highlights that clinicians should be aware of potential hazards associated with denture wear in individuals who are at high risk of tracheobronchial aspiration and as such be able to recognise any arising complications.