Academy of Dental Knowledge

The diagnosis of burning mouth syndrome is by the process of exclusion. When we can not find the reason for burning mouth symptoms, the disease is diagnosed as burning mouth syndrome. The characteristic symptom is a burning or scalding sensation of the tongue. Less frequently, we can find the coincident symptoms in hard palate and mucosal aspect of the lips. Additionally, patient may complain of a sensation of dry mouth with increased thirst, change in taste, such as a bitter or metallic taste or loss of taste. There may also be tingling, stinging or numbness in the mouth. These symptoms can cause little inconvenience in mild cases. In severe cases, they can prevent patients from conducting normal daily activities. It has been found that in extreme cases, patients may show suicidal tendencies.  In most cases, the burning sensation starts mild in the morning and increases in intensity as the day progresses. This type of presentation has the best prognosis. You may find other signs a...

Oral Lichen Planus on left mucosa [1] Question: What is oral lichen planus? Answer: It is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes, characterised by purplish, itchy, flat  eruptions. Question: How common is the condition? Answer: It is a common condition in India. Its cases are reported more than 10 lakh per year in India.   Question: How much time does it need for recovery? Answer: It can last several years or remains lifelong. Question: Is the condition treatable?   Answer: Treatments can help manage conditions. There is no known cure present.     Question: Does diagnosis require lab tests or imaging?   Answer: Its diagnosis rarely requires lab tests or imaging.         Condition Highlights   It commonly occurs for ages 35-50.   It is more common in females.   Family history may increase likelihood to occur.    

Oral mucosal lesions are common. They can be due to physiological changes or a local disease. They may also be an oral manifestation of a skin condition, an adverse drug reaction or systemic disease, for example, gastrointestinal disease. To manage an oral mucosal disease successfully one requires an accurate diagnosis. Now the question arises, how will we get an accurate diagnosis? The correct answer is, by a thorough assessment of oral mucosa for a lesion. Assessment for an oral mucosal lesion involves taking a full patient history. This includes a medication history too. Next we need to perform a thorough extraoral and intraoral examination and use diagnostic investigations where appropriate. One should have a high index of suspicion for oral cancer. To recognise oral cancer one should be familiar with the risk factors for oral cancer . You can see the “ Oral Cancer ” topic to know about risk factors for oral cancer. You should also thoroughly know the red flag features of oral canc...

Acute suppurative sialadenitis (including parotitis) is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus. But sometimes it may be polymicrobial in adults. In acute suppurative sialadenitis, the glands are enlarged, often hot and tense, and pus may be expressed from the Stensen's duct. The patient is usually systemically unwell, dehydrated and has difficulty swallowing. Intraoral view of purulence emanating from the parotid duct orifice in a patient with acute suppurative parotitis [1].   Management Management of acute suppurative sialadenitis includes  urgent referral to hospital for surgical review rehydration  culture and susceptibility testing of blood samples if the swelling is fluctuant, intraductal or surgical drainage; send pus for culture and susceptibility testing  antibiotic therapy, given intravenously initially then orally once the patient can swallow.  If S. aureus is identified in a blood culture, treat as S. aureus bacteraemia. If the results of blood cult...

Diamond burs are generally used for reducing tooth structures to prepare cavities for restorations or place crowns or porcelain veneers. Diamonds may also be used to smooth, refine, and polish composite or porcelain material.

Composites are tooth coloured restorative materials that are usually recommended for class III, IV and class I cavities with less or no occlusal stress and esthetics are important. Specially designed composites are used in almost 50% of class II restorations, although less durable in comparison to dental amalgam. Composites can be classified as microfilled, nanofilled, flowable, packable, all purpose and laboratory. Composites are used for provisional restorations and core build-ups and in fibre-reinforced posts.

You have read about the composition of dental composites in earlier class notes This article will speak about the properties.  Properties of Composites The important properties of the composites are as follows: Polymerisation shrinkage - should be low Water sorption - should be low Coefficient of thermal expansion - should be same as tooth Fracture resistance - should be high Wear resistance - should be high Radiopacity- should be high Bond strength to enamel & dentin - should be high Colour match to tooth structure - should be excellent Manipulation - should be easy Finishing and polishing - should be easy Few of the above mentioned properties may be important for anterior than  posteriors restorations and vice versa. The properties  of  microfilled and nanofilled composites are same while the microhybrid's differ from both of them.

Direct Esthetic Restorative Materials There are four types of direct esthetic restorative materials currently in use. They are: Composites Compomers Hybrid Ionomers Glass Ionomers Composites are dominating the materials used for direct esthetic restorations. Glass ionomers are primarily used for restorations of cervical eroded areas. Hybrid ionomers provide better esthetics than glass ionomers. Compomers provide improved handling and fluoride release when compared with composites.

Permlastic is a polysulfide, condensation-cured, elastomeric impression material in three viscosities P o l ysulfide  impression materials  are  flexible but  do  not have the major changes in dimensions during storage  like  agar and alginate. Furthermore, the polysulfide impression  is  much stronger and more resistant to tearing than agar or alginate. It  can  be electroformed and therefore metal dies or models, in addition to gypsum models,  can  be prepared.  

  Types, clinical features, Causes prevention & treatment Non-carious loss of tooth structure is a problem that is often found in senior citizens and is a cause of many complaints. It is not a new entity but has acquired more attention in recent time. Types of tooth wear Abrasion Attrition Erosion Demastication Abfraction

National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences have declared the dates for NEET MDS, NEET PG & other exams. Candidates can check the exam dates below. NEET-MDS 2023: January 8, 2023 DNB/DrNB Final Practical Examination – June 2022: October/November 2022 Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) December 2022, Foreign Dental Screening Test (FDST) 2022: December 4, 2022 Formative Assessment Test (FAT) 2022: December 10, 2022 DNB/DrNB Final Theory Examination – December 2022: December 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2022 Fellowship Entrance Test (FET) 2022: January 20, 2023 FNB Exit Examination 2022: February/March 2023 DNB/DrNB Final Practical Examination – December 2022: Feb/March/April 2023 NEET-PG 2023: March 5, 2023 Distribution of subject wise questions in NEET MDS examination. The candidates are being advised to check the details and the updated information at the NBE website - https://natboard.edu.in/ as the dates mentioned are tentative and subject to approval and confirmation.

The harmful effects of the excessive dose of the ionizing radiation can be divided into two types. These are as follows:    Deterministic effects and     Stochastic effects     We shall discuss them one by one in detail.  

In earlier articles on radiography, you studied the effects of ionizing radiation on biological tissues. These effects can be divided into two types- Deterministic and Stochastic. Therefore, the radiation safety becomes of paramount importance white taking a radiograph.  

In this article termed as radiation physics, we shall talk about the ways, the x-rays are produced, the events that occur at atomic level during their production and how can one save oneself and others. Production of X Rays   Electrons that travel from the filament to the tungsten convert part of their kinetic energy into x-ray photons. This phenomenon occurs by the formation of bremsstrahlung and characteristic radiation.  

Radiation Biology  Radiation biology is the study of effects of ionizing radiation on living systems. In this article we shall talk about the harmful effects of ionizing radiation on tissues, how does it occur, and how sensitive different types of cells are? The effects of radiation on the tissues can be divided into 2 broad categories. The  Deterministic and Stochastic effects.  

  Cysts of the Jaws and Neck   Cysts can be classified in three types. Odontogenic Cysts   Periapical (Radicular) Cyst    Lateral Periodontal Cyst    Gingival Cyst of the Newborn    Dentigerous Cyst    Eruption Cyst    Glandular Odontogenic Cyst    Odontogenic  Keratocyst     Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst    Nonodontogenic Cysts   Globulomaxillary  Lesion    Nasolabial Cyst    Median Mandibular Cyst    Nasopalatine Canal Cyst    Pseudocysts   Aneurysmal Bone Cyst    Traumatic (Simple) Bone Cyst    Static Bone Cyst (Stafne’s Bone Defect)    Focal Osteoporotic Bone Marrow   Defect    Soft Tissue Cysts of the Neck    Branchial Cyst/ Cervical Lymphoepithelial   Cyst   

A cyst is defined as “an epithelial lined pathologic cavity”. The periapical/radicular cyst is an odontogenic cyst. The classification of the cysts can be seen HERE . I t is important to read for ADC Exams or NEET MDS purpose. Periapical/Radicular cyst Periapical cysts are inflammatory cysts. Their epithelial lining originates from the odontogenic epithelium of the tooth buds that remains within periodontal ligaments (epithelial rests of Malassez) after completion of tooth maturation. Due to inflammatory response, the epithelial rests of Malassez start proliferating and provide cystic lining.

Dentigerous (Follicular) Cysts are the second most commonly occurring odontogenic cysts after periapical cyst and the most common developmental cysts of the jaws. By definition, a dentigerous cyst is attached to the tooth cervix (enamel-cementum junction) and encloses the crown of the unerupted tooth. Photograph1: Dentigerous cyst surrounding the crown of right mandibular third molar and going upward in ascending ramus. [1] Etiology and Pathogenesis of Dentigerous Cyst   A dentigerous cyst originates  from the  enamel organ remnant or reduced enamel epithelium. The expansion of the dentigerous cyst is related to epithelial proliferation, release of bone-resorbing factors, and an increase in cyst fluid osmolality.   Clinical Features of Dentigerous Cyst   Dentigerous cysts are most commonly seen associated with third molars and maxillary Canines. The peak incidence of dentigerous cysts occurs between twenty to 40 ...

Odontogenic Keratocyst     Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a parakeratin lined cyst like lesion within bone. OKCs mostly occur in the 2 nd and 3 rd decades of life; although can occur over a wide age range with male predilection. Odontogenic keratocyst comprises of 4 to 12 percent of all odontogenic cysts. Ninety percent of odontogenic keratocysts are solitary. Multiple cysts are found in Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome / Gorlin Syndrome[1].   The most commonly involved body part in mandible, 65-85%; mostly posterior mandible. Normally, they are associated with third molars but may be present without associating with third molars; rarely occur in soft tissues. They are considered to arise from dental lamina.   Clinical Features   Odontogenic keratocysts are often asymptomatic. They are incidentally discovered on radiographs. They can cause symptomatic swelling. They can cause parasthesia of lip and teeth. Symptoms of pain and drainage are found if s...