Introduction: Gingival overgrowth (GO) is the increase in the size of the gingiva due to various causes. The knowledge about their diverse clinical and histopathological features helps us in their diagnosis, treatment, and management. Aim and objective: To understand the clinical and the histopathological spectrum of inflammatory gingival overgrowth (IGO), drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO), and hereditary gingival overgrowth (HGO). Settings and design: Ninety histopathologically diagnosed cases of IGO, DIGO, and HGO were studied. Materials and methods: 5 micron sections were stained with H & E. The clinical and the histopathological variables of epithelium and connective tissue were compared. Statistical analysis used: Chi-squared test was done to compare the variables among the groups. Results: The parameters, namely, age, site, color, consistency, shape, epithelium, rete ridges, inflammation, inflammatory cell predominance, vascularity, fibrosis, and hyalinization showed significant variation between the study groups. Conclusions: In this study, IGO, DIGO, and HGO showed a female predominance and most cases of IGO and HGO occurred in the 3rd–4th decade whereas DIGO in the 5th–6th decade. Clinically, IGO appeared erythematous and soft in consistency compared to DIGO and HGO, which appeared pink clinically and firm in consistency and all the three study groups showed a site predilection of the maxillary anterior region. Histopathologically IGO showed more inflammatory components than DIGO and HGO which showed more fibrotic connective tissues than IGO.

Aim and objective: This study was aimed to clinically and radiographically evaluate and compare the efficacy of bioactive glass bone graft (NovaBone® putty) and autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects. Materials and methods: A total of 30 intrabony defects were treated in 11 patients. Defects were randomly divided into group I (n = 15; NovaBone® putty) and group II (n = 15; PRF). Clinical parameters evaluated were plaque index, gingival index, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (GR), and cementoenamel junction from a fixed reference point (acrylic stent). Radiographic parameters such as radiographic defect depth, radiographic defect fill, percentage defect fill, and radiographic bone density analysis were recorded and analyzed using radiovisiography (RVG) and film grid. All the parameters were recorded at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month visits. Results: The mean PD reduction, gain in CAL, and mean GR were 4.067, 4.06, and 0.2 mm, respectively, for group I, whereas that of group II, they were 3.467, 3.00, and 0.14 mm, respectively. The mean radiographic defect depth and mean percentage defect fill were, 1.867 mm and 30.7%, respectively, in group I at 9 months. And that of group II, they were 1.466 mm and 27.5%, respectively, at 9 months. The improvement of clinical and radiographic parameters at sites treated with NovaBone® putty was better compared to that of sites treated with PRF, but the differences were statistically not significant. Conclusion: The results of the present study emphasize that the regenerative potential of NovaBone® putty was predictable and equivalent to autologous platelet-rich fibrin. Autologous platelet-rich fibrin can be considered as a reliable periodontal regenerative material, which is inexpensive and readily available. Key message: Autologous PRF can be considered as an inexpensive alternative to the NovaBone® putty bone graft material.

Aim and objective: To assess the influence of educational level and gender on oral hygiene knowledge, attitude, and behavior among undergraduate dental students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, including 357 students and interns of a dental college in Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India. A self-administered anonymous and close-ended questionnaire based on the Hiroshima University–Dental Behavior Inventory was designed and administered voluntarily to students and interns in October 2019 to survey their oral hygiene knowledge and attitude. The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions. The study group consisted of 1st-year students (98), 2nd-year students (91), 3rd-year students (62), 4th-year students (47), and 59 interns. Collected data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Participants’ responses were assessed according to their educational level and gender using the Chi-square test, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: In this study, the response rate was 100%. Responses to some of the questions showed significant variability. The oral health behavior of participants varies not only with their gender but also with their educational level, i.e., the amount of clinical exposure and experience. Conclusion: We conclude that knowledge and information play a crucial role in modifying one's psychology, despite gender-based variation in behavior. Therefore, we recommend that the government includes chapters on some basic knowledge related to oral health in the school syllabus, such as basic science subjects, or a compulsory dental awareness program in the school curriculum.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) arise due to the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms in the urinary tract, resulting in inflammatory reactions in the epithelial linings of the urinary tract. The presence of pathogenic bacteria colonization more than 100,000 microbes of the same strain per milliliter of the urine in two consecutive urine samples is said to be a positive specimen for infection. An electronic search was conducted by using the PubMed database of the library of Unitec Institute of Technology with key research terms “cranberry,” “urinary tract infections,” and “type 2 diabetes.” These specifications resulted in a number of research studies and review articles, but for this literature review, only random controlled trials, comparative studies, pilot studies, and controlled clinical trials were considered. A total of twelve studies were selected for this review, out of which nine were randomized controlled clinical trials, two were co-relational or observational studies, and one was pilot study. The search was not limited to studies on women; rather, an extensive search was carried out in other subpopulations like children, older age-group people, pregnant women, males, and healthy females that were carried out and published between 2008 and 2014. The random controlled trials in the present review provide level 2 evidence, observational studies provide level 4 evidence, and pilot studies provide level 6 evidence. These levels of evidences are mentioned according to the guidelines provided by Polit and Beck.

Aim and objective: This article describes a pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms for retention in a 2-month-old infant with a cleft palate (uvula, soft palate, and secondary hard palate). The main goal of this technique was to cater the infant with a properly functioning feeding plate, thereby reducing the anxiety of the parents related to nasal regurgitation and the infant not gaining weight. Background: Cleft palate has anatomical and morphological alterations correlated with difficulty in suckling, presence of nasal regurgitation while feeding, deficiency in facial growth, dental as well as aesthetic problems, and velopharyngeal inadequacy leading to not only speech and hearing defects, but also psychological complications. Case description: The present case reports a 2-month-old, female infant diagnosed with cleft palate (Veau's class II) with a chief complaint of having difficulty while suckling milk and nasal regurgitation while feeding. Thus, a pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms was devised with the help of Biostar using pressure molding technique to help feed the infant and gain sufficient weight that would be a must to undergo the cleft palate reconstructive surgery. Conclusion: The modified feeding plate with retentive arms showed high efficiency in feeding the infant and presented a high level of acceptance by both the parents and the infant. This also improved the health status of the infant, which was a requirement for rehabilitation. Clinical significance: The pressure-molded modified feeding plate with retentive arms was a favorable feeding option as it had better retention and was much more stable in the infant's oral cavity. Moreover, it created a separation between the oral and nasal cavities and thus helped in creating a negative intraoral pressure during suckling, thereby effectively sealing the cleft palate.