Background: In maxillofacial trauma, the most commonly encountered are mandibular fractures requiring treatment. Managing these fractures with rigid fixation abolish the intermaxillary fixation (IMF) requirement with reduction and early return to function. Aims: The present trial was carried out to assess clinically the effectiveness of new locking bone plate screw system postsurgically in mandibular fracture cases without IMF. Materials and Methods: In 18 subjects, the fracture site was exposed, fracture segments were reduced and approximated keeping the occlusal relationship is desirable using locking 2 mm mini plates and screws without IMF. The subjects were followed every week for initial 4 weeks followed by evaluation for up to 6 months every month to assess clinical and radiographic healing and the results were formulated. Results: Road traffic accident was the cause in 10 subjects (55.5%), followed by assault in 22.2% ( n = 4) subjects, and fall from height in 16.6% ( n = 3) subjects. Parasymphysis was involved in 44.4% ( n = 8), followed by symphysis in 11.1% ( n = 2) subjects. A minor complication of wound dehiscence was seen in 5.5% ( n = 1) subjects that were managed conservatively and a major complication of infection was also seen in 1 subject that required removal of the plate at 4 weeks of follow-up. Following plate removal, IMF was done for that subject. All other sites were healed uneventfully. Primary healing in bone was seen in 94.4% ( n = 17) subjects and it was not seen in the case with infection. Conclusion: Within the limitations, the present study concluded that the locking miniplate system is highly effective and reliable in treating mandibular fractures with acceptable results and a very low postoperative complications rate.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate levels of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in plasma and saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The diurnal patterns of sAA and its response to stress were also determined. Materials and Methods: A randomized clinical study was conducted to evaluate the salivary and plasma levels of sAA in three study groups, containing ten subjects each. sAA concentration in plasma and saliva samples was measured using Bioassay Technology Laboratory human alpha-amylase kits, and the levels were compared among control and test groups. Results: In all groups, the mean plasma α-amylase level and mean saliva α-amylase level show an increasing trend with time, i.e., from morning to night, and among the groups, it was highest in Group III followed by Group II and Group I the least (Group III, Group II, and Group I) at all times with significantly higher mean values in Group III subjects at all times of a day. Conclusion: Alpha-amylase is one of the principal salivary proteins and its secretion is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. The measurement of salivary alpha-amylase activity has been proposed to reflect stress-related changes in the autonomic nervous system, and it may be a good choice for monitoring sympathetic nervous system activity in specialized subjects. Hence, it can be concluded that salivary sAA levels can be taken as a predictable as well as reproducible marker for oral SCC or premalignant lesions.