Objective: Though the soft palate presents with varied morphology, very few studies have described its diversity. The aim of our study was to investigate various shapes of soft palate in normal individuals. Methods: The study comprised of 80 individuals requiring orthodontic treatment but without any speech abnormality, whose age ranged from 9 to 31 years. Velar shape was examined on digital lateral cephalograms and was allocated to one of the six patterns as described by You M et al. The difference in proportion of each type and also difference between genders were studied. Results: The normal soft palate can be classified into six types based on its shape. Type 2-rat-tail shape is most common in both the genders. There is no significant difference in proportion of various shapes of soft palate between genders. Conclusion: Soft palate may have variable morphology. Knowledge of varied spectrum of velar morphology may help in successful functional and structural repair in cleft palate cases, and shed some light towards the causes of obstructive sleep apnea and related disorders.

Objecitves: Radiomorphometric indices on dental radiographs can be used for screening of osteoporosis. However population-specific normative data is sparse. Aim was to establish radiomorphometric indices in Indian population and to determine role of age, gender and dentition on these indices. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study was undertaken from January 2010 to December 2010. OPGs of 80 samples were divided into four age groups. Mental index, panoramic mandibular index, mandibular cortical index, antegonial index were measured. Relationships with age and dentition were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS12.0. Student t-test, one way analysis of variance, Chi square test was used to find the statistical significance. P value < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results:In most of the study population endosteal margins of the mandibular cortex were even and sharp on both sides i.e.C1 appearance except in 60-69 years females who showed increased tendency of lacunar cortical defects i.e. C2 appearance. No correlation between dentition and mandibular cortical index (MCI), mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI) & Antegonial index (AI) (p value 0.583, 0.059, 0.491 respectively). Population's mean of AI, MI, and PMI among males were 3.33, 3.97, 0.33 respectively and among females were 3.06, 3.64, and 0.32 respectively. (p value for AI, MI, PMI were 0.048, 0.028,0.037 respectively). Conclusions: All indices negatively correlated with age. There was a general downward trend with age until sixth decade, when values declined sharply. No statistical significance was found between AI, MI, and PMI and dentition.

Predilection of lesions to occur at certain specific sites is of great aid in arriving at a logical diagnosis. However tendency of lesions to appear at particular site does not follow a rule book. Enigmatic lesions like ameloblastomas have varied presentation. Here is an unusual case report of a patient who presented to us with an anterior mandibular swelling. Although clinical and radiographic features were suggestive of central giant cell granuloma, histopathological diagnosis was of ameloblastic carcinoma. Ameloblastomas are considered to be benign lesions; however, some can be reclassified as malignant when metastases occur or present with a very aggressive behavior. A detailed deliberation of differential diagnosis of anterior mandibular swellings is also done.