Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in students and to evaluate if any relationship existed between the stress levels, salivary cortisol levels, and TMD. Material and Methods: A total of 348 students, 187 female, and 161 male students, participated in this cross-sectional study. Students were evaluated based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. The stress levels were evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale. The students were divided into the control and TMD groups. Salivary cortisol levels in the salivary samples were analyzed. Results: The prevalence rate of TMDs was 30.7% in the study population. Of the female students, 61% had TMD compared with 46% of male students. Muscle disorders were the most predominant disorder in 14.2% of the students with TMD. The TMD group showed significantly higher salivary cortisol and stress levels than the control group. The TMD group also showed a moderate positive correlation between cortisol and stress levels (p=0.01). Conclusion:The study showed a strong association between salivary cortisol levels, stress, and temporomandibular disorders. Salivary cortisol could be used as a prognostic biomarker for stress while assessing the severity of TMJ problems in stressed individuals.

Background: Several biometric systems like fingerprints, voice scan, iris scan, and palm scan are currently in use. Biometric authentication is an essential process to identify and verify any person for safety reasons. Tongue print is a new method for biometric identification that is unique and cannot be copied easily. Objectives: This study aims to assess the tongue morphological features and its variations regarding gender and different ethnicities. Methods: The study sample included two hundred fifty participants. Visual examination of the tongue was done, followed by capturing digital photographs. The photographs were analyzed for the surface morphological features like tongue shape, the presence of fissures, and its distribution pattern. The shape of the tongue was determined by considering three reference points. Results: Central fissures are the most common feature seen on the dorsal surface of the tongue. The shallow fissure is more common than deep fissures. Females had a higher number of both deep and shallow fissures when compared to males. U shaped were common in males (52.6%) than females (40.6%), while V-shaped was more in females (56.1%). A significant proportion of Malay race has a U-shaped tongue; meanwhile, V-shaped is predominantly found in Indian race. Conclusions: Tongue prints may constitute secure methods for forensic dentistry identification. The tongue can be a real proof of life as it is unique, and there are no two tongues with similar shape and texture. Lingual morphological aspects are difficult to copy and display stability over time.

Introduction: Traumatic dental injuries are common among children owing to their developing neuromusculoskeletal responses. This study aims at assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice towards management of trauma to anterior teeth among faculty members and students of Medical College. Materials and Method:A cross sectional survey with pretested questionnaire was used to assess the demographics of the participants along with their knowledge regarding dental trauma, their attitude and practices to handle them. Total of 200 participants comprising, 150 students and 50 faculty members of the dental institute were part of this study. Descriptive statistics was used to represent each category. Also, inferential statistical methods were used to assess any significant differences between the groups when significance level is kept at 5%. Results:The findings showed that almost 40% of the participants had experienced dental trauma before, the most common trauma that they encountered was tooth fracture. Faculty members had better knowledge score compared to students those who have had previous knowledge before regarding this issue also had better knowledge than their counterpart. Conclusion:The present study showed that the participants have sufficient knowledge about dental trauma, and they showed a positive attitude towards it. However, some were still reluctant to perform dental first aid when required due to the lack of training availability and education. Dental first aid needs to be a part of the curriculum. Training programs are even more helpful, as it will help to build the confidence of the operator. This will create awareness among the public about the importance of managing dental trauma of the anterior teeth.

Cranial defects lead to unesthetic appearance and are a constant source of apprehension to the patient. Meningioma with calvarial extension requires the excision of the involved bone for complete excision. Such total excision would leave behind a bony defect which would need reconstruction. Presurgical fabrication of acrylic flap helps in reconstruction of such cranial defect following complete excision in single stage, thereby decreasing the cost and morbidity of surgery. Further, it facilitates the reproduction of the contours, and the tissue bed is not exposed to the heat of polymerization or to the free monomer. The authors report a case of hyperostotic convexity meningioma in a middle-aged female where heat-cured acrylic resin alloplastic implant was prefabricated and used successfully.