"Identification through forensic science is an art of giving the corpse a name A real life detective work that would put even Sherlock Homes to shame." Forensic dentistry deals with proper handling and examination of dental evidence and proper evaluation and presentation of dental findings in interest of justice. Denture marking or labeling is not a new concept in either Prosthetic or Forensic dentistry and its routine practice has been urged by Forensic dentists internationally for many years. Denture marking is accepted as a means of identifying dentures and persons in geriatric institutions or post mortem during war, crimes, and civil unrest, natural and mass disasters. Prosthodontists are playing very important role in forensic dentistry as they are concerned with fabrication of various prostheses which can serve as an important tool for identification. Identification is essential requirement of any medico-legal investigation because a wrong identity may pose a problem in delivering justice. The main objective of this article is to discuss the various methods of denture marking and to emphasize the importance of denture marking for person identification in medico legal investigations.

Cleft lip and palate is a congenital anomaly occurring at birth. This article describes about the construction of feeding plate which is also used for naso alveolar molding (NAM). The main objective of this treatment is that this procedure minimizes the extent of surgery that should be done on newborns. Two infants with unilateral and bilateral cleft lip and palate are treated by making feeding plate and which is also used for NAM. Both the infants had favorable results, better in case of unilateral cleft lip patient; we hope that it will minimize the extent of surgery and the resultant scarring.

Large cranial defects of complex geometric shapes are challenging to reconstruct. The cranial implants has to be fabricated prior to the cranioplastic surgery. The ideal material for cranial implant has to be inert, light weight, easy to fit and adaptable to the defect, offering the best aesthetic and functional results. Here is a clinical case report of a patient who was operated for osteomyelitis in the parieto-temporal region. The defect was reconstructed with heat cure polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Operative closure of the defect was facilitated with ligature titanium wires with minimal prosthesis contouring. The heat cure PMMA cranial implant is a safe, easy and economic alternative with great adaptability to cranial vault defects. The cosmetic results in this patient was excellent. No post-operative complications occurred.

Patients with a tracheostomy stoma experience compromised speech and function due to the associated changes in airflow patterns. Rehabilitation of a patient with tracheal stoma is a highly challenging task. The main objective is to design an inexpensive, easily fabricated stomal prosthesis for postlaryngectomy patients who require prolonged tracheotomy. This clinical case report describes a 29-year-old male patient who underwent for tracheotomy 3 months before for respiratory distress following a suicidal attempt. Hence tracheotomy was done, and the patient has been with the tracheostomal tube since surgery for the past 3 months. Laryngoscopy examination reported as restricted bilateral vocal cord movements, and the cords were in the adducted position with minimal glottic chink. No history of difficulty in swallowing. On examination, no scar or ulceration is seen around the stoma. The skin around the stoma is healthy. The patient was referred to the oral and maxillofacial Prosthodontics Department from the Department of ENT. The patient's old tracheostomal tube was used as the dimensions of the custom made tracheal prosthesis without making a functional impression of the mature stoma. A tracheal button was made with 2 mm polyethylene urethane sheet to maintain the airway patency of the mature stoma. Width and length of the old tracheostomal tube were measured and customized with polyurethane sheet by directly flaming over heat. The finished product was thin, flexible, maintains enhanced tear strength, require no tapes or adhesives and less technique sensitive. These properties of the prosthesis make more advantageous than the commercially available tracheal buttons. The result in this patient was excellent with no postoperative complications. An innovative approach for fabrication of tracheostomal prosthesis was discussed to increase its successful use in tracheostomal patients. The patient's old tracheostomal tube was used as the dimensions of the custom made tracheal prosthesis without making a functional impression of the mature stoma. The finished product was thin, flexible, maintains enhanced tear strength, require no tapes or adhesives and less technique sensitive. These properties of the prosthesis makes more advantageous than the commercially available tracheal buttons. The result in this patient was excellent with no postoperative complications.

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