Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of lag screw fixation in mandibular fractures with respect to parameters such as stability of the occlusion, functional stability, infection rates, neurosensory deficit, ease of technique, and maximum interincisal opening. Materials and Methods: Our study was carried out on 13 patients with mandibular fractures. Selected cases were treated with lag screw technique and 2.7 mm titanium screws were used. Postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence, infection, neurosensory disturbance, nonunion, malocclusion, postoperative mouth opening, and occlusal discrepancies were assessed. Results: All the patients were male, aged between 17 and 50 years. The cause of the injury was road traffic accidents in all, except for two assaults. Our study of 13 cases of fractured mandible included five symphyses, five parasymphyses, two angle, and one body fracture cases. Our observation with open reduction and rigid internal fixation with 1–2 lag screws revealed close approximation of fractured fragments in all the cases, except in three patients who had mild discrepancy of occlusion. Conclusion: Lag screw technique provides good interfragmentary compression and restoration of premorbid anatomic alignment of fracture fragments. In displaced mandibular fractures, especially in oblique fractures, the use of lag screw has proven to be ideal. The complications were found to be low. It was concluded that the lag screw provided excellent stability and occlusion.

Background: Age estimation is of prime importance in forensic science and clinical dentistry. In children, age estimation can be done by skeletal maturity indicators like hand-wrist radiographs and dental age estimation. Skeletal maturity indicators compared with dental age estimation is limited as they are influenced by various environmental parameters, whereas calcification of teeth depends on genes rather than environmental factors. Many of the dental age estimation methods use extracted teeth, which are quite invasive, whereas Cameriere's method is a recently introduced radiographic method first in European population; where in age estimation is done using open apices of teeth by orthopantomogram (OPG). Indian-specific formula was introduced later using permanent mandibular teeth on left side of jaw. The present study aimed to estimate the age and also to determine the accuracy of Cameriere's method using Indian-specific formula on both right and left sides of mandible in Khammam population of South India and also to determine the side which can be efficient in determining age. Methodology: The present study comprised radiographs of 50 subjects (25 boys and 25 girls) ranging from 5 to 15 years. The soft copies of the radiographs of selected subjects were retrieved from the computer attached to the digital orthopantomogram machine (Orthophos XG5; Sirona Dental Systems). The 7 left and right permanent mandibular teeth were assessed in OPGs. The number of teeth with closed apical and with open apical ends of roots was examined and measured. The values were tabulated based on the Cameriere method of age estimation using Indian-specific formula. Statistical analysis was done using paired t test and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient test. Results: Comparison of dental age with chronological age in males showed non-significant results on both left and right sides of the OPG with a p value of 0.3765 and 0.3045, respectively. Likewise in females, p values of 0.2167 and 0.8089 were noted. When males and females were compared, non-significant results were obtained with a p value of 0.1613 in the age estimated on the left side of the OPG and a p value of 0.4322 on the right side of the OPG. Correlation test showed that left side of the OPG showed better results in determining age than the right side of the OPG with an r value of 0.9982 and 0.9485 in males and females, respectively.