To understand the benefits of dexamethasone and compare the effects of submucosal vs intramuscular (IM) administration of dexamethasone in reducing postoperative sequelae following impacted mandibular third molar surgery.

The study was conducted on 90 patients, who were divided into three groups of 30 each. The two experimental groups were given dexamethasone 4 mg submucosally or intramuscularly (preoperatively), and the control group did not receive any form of corticosteroid. Measurements of facial swelling and maximal interincisal distance were made preoperatively and on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th postoperative days. Pain was evaluated from patients' response to visual analog scale and recording the number of rescue analgesic tablets taken at the end of the 7th postoperative day.

Both dexamethasone groups showed a significant reduction in pain, swelling, and trismus as compared with the control group at all intervals. There was a statistically significant reduction in magnitude of swelling in the submucosal dexamethasone group as compared with the IM dexamethasone group on the 1st postoperative day, but there was no significant difference among two experimental groups at other times and their effects were comparable for all variables.

Dexamethasone 4 mg is an effective therapeutic strategy for reducing postoperative sequelae following surgical removal of impacted third molars and submucosal dexamethasone is an effective alternative to dexamethasone given systemically.

Imran M, Reddy BC, Islam M, Khan A, Parkar SN, Nath T. Role of Dexamethasone in reducing Postoperative Sequelae following Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery: A Comparative Clinical Study. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):53-60.

Micronutrients have been extensively studied in recent years; of these magnesium and iron are essential for a variety of physiologic functions. Activation of neutrophils is an early effect of hypomagnesemia, which, in turn, causes periodontal tissue destruction. Since magnesium also influences blood pressure regulation by vascular tone and reactivity, its altered levels could contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension. Iron plays a key role in the formation of reactive oxygen species that causes peroxidative damage to tissues.

The present study is designed to estimate the levels of serum iron and magnesium in healthy, chronic periodontitis patients with and without hypertension.

This study includes 90 subjects, age ranging from 18 to 65 years. They were categorized into three groups as group I: 30 periodontally healthy, group II: 30 chronic periodontitis, and group III: 30 chronic periodontitis with hypertension. Serum magnesium levels were determined using the modified xylidyl blue reaction method and serum iron levels using ferrozine method without deproteinization via photometry.

Biochemical parameters showed mean serum iron levels in chronic periodontitis (59.17) to be significantly reduced as compared with the control group (76.90) and slightly increased in the chronic periodontitis with hypertension group (69.63). Serum magnesium levels were found to be significantly lower in the hypertensive group as compared with the chronic periodontitis and control groups.

Iron and magnesium have a link in the pathophysiology of periodontitis. Serum iron and serum magnesium levels were closely linked to periodontitis and hypertension.

Kalburgi NB, Koregol AC, Mary TJJ, Warad S, Annam T, Kataria N. Associating Serum Iron and Magnesium Levels in Hypertensive and Chronic Periodontitis Patients: Do They have a Link? J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):61-65.

India is one of the countries where a large population is affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It destroys the specific immune system cells called CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) cells leading to an advanced condition called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is one of the life-threatening conditions. It is an infectious disease that can affect caregivers as well. These patients need to be treated with compassion and caution. The doctors need to be aware of the various types of infection, their symptoms, and precautions while treating them. Hence, there is a need to evaluate awareness and behavior among the medical and dental interns while dealing with patients suffering from HIV infection/AIDS patients.

The present cross-sectional survey explored knowledge, awareness, and behavior of medical and dental interns toward HIV-infected/AIDS patients at People's University, Bhopal, India. A questionnaire consisting of 25 questions was given to the interns. A total of 350 interns were included in the study; 250 interns were from People's College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre and People's Dental Academy, Bhopal, India, while 100 interns were from People's College of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India. The collected data were analyzed and subjected to relevant statistics.

Out of 350 questionnaires received, 250 were answered by dental interns and 100 were answered by medical interns. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of percentage knowledge score for dental interns was 76.57 ± 17.67 and for medical interns, it was 83.05 ± 11.04. Median of percentage knowledge score was 84.80 and 86.00 for dental and medical interns respectively. Mann—Whitney U-test showed no significant difference between dental and medical interns for percentage knowledge scores (p > 0.05). The awareness score between the dental and medical interns showed that dental interns (82.34) showed slightly better awareness to the HIV patients than medical interns (81.00), although it was not statistically significant. When the behavior scores were compared between the dental and medical interns, the medical interns showed a higher score (85.4) compared with the dental interns (76.80), which was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

The cross-sectional survey showed that medical students had better knowledge but dental interns had better awareness, though both were statistically not significant.

The medical interns had better behavior score than dental interns, which was statistically significant.

Ashok KP, Tripathi A, Ashok S. Knowledge, Awareness, and Behavior of Medical and Dental Interns toward Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Patients in Three Colleges of Madhya Pradesh, India: A Cross-sectional Survey. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):66-71.

Nanjappa MS, Bhoboo PR, Felix K, Ranganatha N. Management of Hemophilia Patient. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):72-76.

Several techniques have been used to achieve root coverage and augment attached gingiva, including laterally positioned flaps, coronally positioned flaps, free gingival grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and connective tissue grafting. The decision of using a pedicle procedure or free tissue grafts is based on availability of the adjacent donor site and the width and depth of the defect site.

In this report, a young female patient reported with a deep and wide recession defect (Miller's class I) in the upper right central incisor with minimal keratinized gingival width. As the adjacent papillae were wide and showed good donor tissue and augmentation of width and thickness of keratinized gingiva were intended, double-papilla flap and connective tissue graft was performed. The 13-month postoperative showed Cairo's root coverage esthetic score of 6, satisfying the patient's esthetic needs.

The root coverage achieved was structurally and functionally stable at 13-month follow-up satisfying the patient's esthetic needs.

This procedure seems to be a promising treatment option for deep-wide gingival recessions for root coverage and increasing the thickness and width of keratinized gingiva.

Sunil S, Babu HM. Root Coverage using Double Papilla with Connective Tissue Graft: A 13-month Report of a Successful Case. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):77-79.

Modern advances in all phases of dentistry have provided the opportunity for patients to maintain a functional dentition for longer periods of time. The disciplines of endodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics fuse when the molars that have furcation involvements are treated by hemisection or root resection. Preserving the socket in these cases after removing the root or tooth segment and regenerating bone around the remaining portion of the root is an important part of the treatment that determines the prognosis of the tooth.

To enhance bone regeneration, a modified approach was used while bone grafting, where gelatin sponge was placed along with the synthetic hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate in the osseous defect of the lower right first molar tooth following distal root resection. In this case report, the tooth after root resection has shown profound improvement in periodontal health, and the socket was preserved satisfactorily.

The simple modification showed an uneventful healing and excellent periodontal health clinically and good bone fill contributing to socket preservation as seen radiographically. The tooth has continued to serve well as found in the sixth month follow-up.

The future prospect of using bone graft along with an agent that holds the clot and stabilizes it (gelatin sponge) during healing could serve as a useful treatment procedure, as this combination might act together producing synergistic effects.

Sunil S, Babu HM. A Modified Method for Bone Regeneration using Gelatin Sponge with Bone Graft in treating an Osseous Defect after Root Resection. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):80-83.

To present two cases of rare morphological variations of mandibular teeth which were successfully treated endodontically.

Variations in root and root canal morphology can be found associated with any tooth with varying degree and incidence. To execute an excellent root canal treatment, the clinician should have thorough knowledge of root canal anatomy.

Mandibular premolars and canines usually have a single root and single canal. Occurrences of two roots in such teeth are morphological rarities. Endodontic therapy was performed successfully in these rare cases with the help of preoperative radiographs at different angulations.

The root canal system is a complex structure that possesses aberrant anatomical and morphological variations. During endodontic therapy, it is always mandatory to follow the guidelines and laws to understand the complexities of the space that has to be cleaned and obturate.

Thorough understanding and exploration of the complex root canal system with the help of available diagnostic aids is essential for a successful endodontic therapy.

Veettil RP, Shubhashini N, Kini A, Bolbanai GI. Variations in the Root Morphology of Mandibular Teeth. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):84-88.

Bhansali A, Kishan A, Mathur S, Bhansali G. Palmoplantar Keratoderma with Periodontitis. J Health Sci Res 2017;8(2):89-92.