Context: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic debilitating disease with significant malignant potential. The most common symptoms of the condition include burning sensation, trismus, swallowing, and speech impairment as well as gustatory alteration. Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of gustatory functions in oral submucous fibrosis patients, gutka chewers, chronic smokers and healthy individuals. Methods and Material: A total of 112 individuals were selected for the study and divided into four groups of 28 participants, each comprising OSMF patients, gutka chewers, chronic smokers with gutka-chewing habits, and healthy individuals. Each participant was assessed for gustatory function using four different tastants for sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, and the taste perception was recorded as hypogeusia, hypergeusia, dysgeusia, and ageusia. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS software version 26. A comparison between the four groups was made separately for the four different tastes and the five parameters. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: For OSMF patients, gutka chewers, and chronic smokers with gutka-chewing habits, salty taste showed normal perception, sweet taste showed hypogeusia, and bitter taste reported ageusia. The healthy individuals mostly showed normal perception for almost all tastes. Conclusions: It can be concluded that OSMF and habitual consumption of areca nut and tobacco appear to have a significant impact on the alteration of the gustatory function, although the type of taste sensation that is affected may vary from person to person.

Introduction: Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease of unknown aetiology. Topical corticosteroid has been widely used for the treatment purpose so far. In order to overcome the side effects of corticosteroid, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has been proposed, but very few studies have been done to evaluate the effect of PDT and corticosteroid on lichen planus using computerised photometric analysis. Aim: To compare the efficacy, using computerised photometric analysis and Red Green Blue (RGB) scoring, of triamcinolone acetonide and PDT in the treatment of erosive lichen planus. Materials and Methods: A prospective interventional study was done in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, from January 2021 to February, 2021. There were 10 patients of erosive lichen planus who were divided into two groups. Patients of Group A were treated with Triamcinolone acetonide, and Group B patients were treated with PDT, for four weeks. Visual Analogue Score (VAS), Reticular Erosive Ulcerative (REU) Score, Oral Mucositis Index (OMI), photometric analysis using RGB scoring were recorded at baseline, after two weeks and four weeks of treatment. Mann-Whitney U test was used for intergroup comparison, and paired t-test for intra-group comparison. Results: In the study, there was no significant difference (p-value= 1.00) in age among the patients of two groups. At baseline, VAS mean score of Group A patients (5.20±0.837), Group B patients (6.40±1.140) and the p-value was 0.101; REU mean score of Group A patients (5.90±1.245), Group B patients (9.00±2.00) and p-value was significant (0.028); OMI mean score of Group A patients (1.20±0.447), Group B patients (1.60±0.548) and p-value was 0.221; RGB mean score for Group A (110.80±1.212) and Group B (116.52±1.194). After four weeks of treatment, VAS mean score of Group A patients was (0.80±0.84), Group B patients was 0, p-value was significant (0.05); REU mean score Group A (2.70±1.04), Group B (1.00±0.71), p-value was significant 0.031; OMI mean score of both Group A and B was 0; RGB mean score for Group A (113.22±1.89), Group B (121.58±0.96), p-value was significant (0.009). Conclusion: It was found that PDT was better in treating erosive lichen planus and it can be used as an alternative to the standard treatment modalities.

Context: Lichen planus is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease that frequently involves the oral mucosa and skin. It has been proposed that psychological factors like high stress and anxiety levels have a strong association with lichen planus. Estimation of the stress level in patients with oral lichen planus. Aims: To estimate the stress in patients with Oral Lichen Planus by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, and State-trait anxiety inventory and compare these with normal healthy individuals. Methods and Material: Twenty oral lichen planus patients and twenty normal subjects were included in the study. Every individual gave the hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, and State-trait anxiety inventory. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained were analyzed with SPSS software 26. The findings of various parameters were evaluated and analyzed statistically using Mann Whitney U test. Results: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Questionnaire, State-trait anxiety inventory, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 scores were significantly higher in the oral lichen planus group than in normal individuals. Conclusions: Psychological factors like anxiety and depression play a major role in the pathogenesis of OLP, and non-invasive procedures like the Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21, and State-trait anxiety inventory scores can be used as a useful indicator to estimate stress levels in OLP patients.

Introduction: The importance of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in the field of Implant Planning is a rapidly emerging imaging modality for the purpose of implant planning. Having the obvious benefits over the conventional methods of radiography, CBCT by far is the most promising aid in the efficient implant-supported prosthetic field. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the bone density and the height and width around dental implants and compare it to that of the edentulous space before placing the implant. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology of Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar. A total of 20 subjects from the CBCT database of the department with a single posterior edentulous space indicated for implant-supported dental prosthesis were selected. Approval of the Ethical Committee was taken. A pre-implant radiographic assessment was done with the help of CBCT, to evaluate the crestal height, crestal width and bone density, followed by surgical placement of the implant. After 6 months of implant placement, a post-operative radiographic assessment was done to evaluate the same parameters.  Results: The mean difference of pre- and post-implant crestal width was 0.57 (p<0.001), crestal height was 0.5 (p<0.001) and bone density was 58.2 (p<0.001). It was observed that the mean crestal height, width and bone density was higher in the post-operative radiographic assessment compared to the pre-operative radiographic assessment and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: From the given results, it can be concluded that alveolar bone width, height and bone density were significantly improved after implant placement and the osseointegration occurring after implant prosthesis greatly improves the periodontal status of the peri-implant tissues.