Objectives To prospectively evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Neocone, Alvogyl and Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) intra alveolar dressings for the management of dry socket and to study the epidemiological factors associated with the condition. Study Design All the patients who underwent extraction of teeth and who fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1st January 2012 to February 28th 2013 were included in our study. Patients who were diagnosed to suffer from dry socket were randomly allocated to three groups namely Group A (Alvogyl), Group B (ZOE), Group C (Neocone). Pain relief and healing of the socket were compared between these groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis by Chi Square test, Z test of proportionality. Results and Conclusion Alvogyl is superior to the other two medications for providing initial pain relief. Neocone provides complete pain relief and the healing was fastest with Neocone. Neocone emerged as the most suitable dressing material for the management of dry socket by virtue of shorter time required for complete pain relief, fewer visits and faster clinical healing.

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Objectives To compare the effectiveness of bupivacaine with adrenaline with that of carbonated bupivacaine with adrenaline on pain, onset of anesthesia and duration of anesthesia following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar. Study design All the patients who underwent surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar and who fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1st June 2013 to 30th June 2014 were included in our study. Patients who were diagnosed as having impacted mandibular third molar were randomly allocated to two groups namely group A (bupivacaine with adrenaline), group B (carbonated bupivacaine with adrenaline). Pain during deposition of local anesthetic, onset of anesthesia and duration of anesthesia were compared between the two groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis by Chi Square test, Mann-Whitney U test. Results and conclusion The efficacy of carbonated bupivacaine with adrenaline is more compared with bupivacaine with adrenaline in decreasing pain on deposition of local anesthetic solution and in rapid onset of anesthesia. The duration of anesthesia for carbonated bupivacaine with adrenaline and bupivacaine with adrenaline had no significant difference. The use of carbonated bupivacaine with adrenaline will reduce the patient discomfort both intraoperatively and post-operatively.

Osteoma is a slow growing benign tumor consisting of well differentiated compact or cancellous bone that increases in size by continuous growth. It can be of a central, peripheral, or extraskeletal type. The peripheral type arises from the periosteum and is rarely seen in mandible. Although completely curable with adequate surgical treatment, osteomas precede the clinical radiographic evidence of colonic polyposis/Gardner's syndrome. Therefore they may be sensitive markers for the disease. Recurrence of peripheral osteoma after surgical excision is extremely rare. However it is appropriate to provide both clinical and radiographic follow up after surgical excision of peripheral osteoma. This article describes the case of a 45 year old male who presented with painless swelling of the right body of mandible and resultant cosmetic facial disfigurement and functional impairment.

Odontogenic fascial space infections are commonly encountered by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. A retrospective study of the epidemiological characteristics, microbiological analysis and treatment response to odontogenic infections treated in the oral and maxillofacial unit of a Dental school is presented. A retrospective analysis of case records of all odontogenic infections that reported to the oral and maxillofacial surgery unit in a Dental school over a period of 2 years was performed. Epidemiological data, microbiological profile and treatment responses were analysed. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS statistical package. Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and nonparametric tests were carried out. A total of 2,140 patients were included in this study. Mandibular third molars were the offending tooth in nearly 40 % of cases with 107 patients becoming symptomatic following a dental extraction procedure. All patients were treated with surgical incision and drainage, antibiotics and local wound care. More than 95 % cases needed intraoral incisions. Penicillin was the drug in most of the cases. The pterygomandibular space was the most commonly involved with 15 % reporting with multiple fascial space involvement. Microbiological analysis showed a predominance of aerobic gram positive organisms with most commonly isolated. and were the common anaerobes isolated. More than 80 % of the strains isolated were sensitive to penicillin. The average length of stay was 6.3 days. Inadequate documentation with regards to referral patterns, antibiotic history was commonly observed in case records. Penicillin continues to remain the drug of choice for a vast majority of maxillofacial infections of odontogenic origin. A delay in reporting can lead to worsening of symptoms with consequent increase in surgical morbidity and costs of treatment. Preventive dental care remains the best option available to mitigate the consequences of poor oral hygiene. Poor awareness among patient population for regular dental reviews and oral hygiene maintenance emphasises the need for sensitisation and education programs.