BDS INSIGHTS

Having natural pink color gums is very important for good smile. Smile looks beautiful if one has beautiful teeth with natural looking pink gums. But that is not always possible. Generally the gums color is same as the skin color. The people from the west are fair and their gum color is also pink mostly. Dark gums are mostly seen in dark skinned people.  The gum discoloration may be present in patches.  The extent of gum discoloration and the intensity is different for different individuals. Dark pigmented gums don’t mean that they are unhealthy and are not an indication of a disease.   What are the causes of Dark Gums: Racial or physiological gingival pigmentation: It is seen as the genetic trait. The main culprit behind this is the black pigment known as Melanin. The production of melanin increases manifolds in the presence of sunlight. At the same time it is more in the persons having complexion towards darker side. The individuals who are involved in out

    The trial is being conducted on patients with brain cancer It may be possible to use "stem cell shielding" to protect the body from the damaging effects of chemotherapy, early results from a US trial suggest. Chemotherapy drugs try to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells, but they can also affect other healthy tissues such as bone marrow. A study, in Science Translational Medicine , used genetically modified stem cells to protect the bone marrow. Cancer Research UK said it was a "completely new approach". The body constantly churns out new blood cells in the hollow spaces inside bone. However, bone marrow is incredibly susceptible to chemotherapy. The treatment results in fewer white blood cells being produced, which increases the risk of infection, and fewer red blood cells, which leads to shortness of breath and tiredness. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, said these effects were "a major barrier&q

Martin Jones, a 42-year-old builder, was left blind after an accident at work more than a decade ago. But a remarkable operation - which implants part of his tooth in his eye - has pierced his world of darkness. The procedure, performed fewer than 50 times before in Britain, uses the segment of tooth as a holder for a new lens grafted from his skin. Mr Jones, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, married his wife Gill, 50, four years ago. By that time he had already spent eight years without his sight after a tub of white hot aluminium exploded in his face at work in a scrapyard. He suffered 37 per cent burns and had to wear a special body stocking for 23 hours a day. He also had his left eye removed. But surgeons were able to save the right eye, even though he was unable to see through it. At first specialists in Nottingham tried to save his sight using stem cells from a donor but the attempt failed. It was only when a revolutionary new operation was pioneered at

Not only human beings, but also animals have to deal with toothache once in a while. A team of researchers from the University of Toronto Mississauga went on to examine the jaw of Labidosaurus hamatus, a terrestrial reptile that lived 275 million years ago, and found evidence of bone damage due to oral infection. This is a great finding as it shows the reptile’s susceptibility to oral infections. The team of scientists, led by paleontologist Professor Dr Robert Reisz, found out more about the terrestrial vertebrates that lived around 250 to 315 million years ago and the their jaws. They were able to study this from several well-preserved specimens of Labidosaurus hamatus . The one that they studied showcases missing teeth and associated erosion of the jaw bone. With the aid of a computer tomography scanning the team was able to find enough supportive evidence of a massive infection. This was the cause of the loss of several teeth, bone destruction in the jaw in the fo

    The Dental Council of India has approved a three-year master of dental surgery (MDS) course in forensic dentistry. Forensic dentistry or forensic odontology is the proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence. "The proposal to have MDS in forensic dentistry has been approved by the Dental Council of India at a meeting on May 14 at Chandigarh. The proposal will now be sent to the central government for an issuance of notification," said Dr Ajit Dinkar, professor at Goa Dental College, who is also a member of Dental Council of India. Dental Council of India is a statutory body incorporated to regulate dental education and the profession of dentistry throughout India. Dr Dinkar explained that forensic dentistry is the need of the hour and there are hardly any qualified forensic dentists in the country. Forensic dentists are responsible for six main areas of practice which include identification of human remains, identification in mass fatalit

                          Polymer scaffolds guide stem cells growth into customized sizes and shapes. It may be hard to remember what it was like to lose a tooth as a child, but many adults get an unpleasant reminder as they age when their teeth begin to fall out (even those who don’t play hockey) and must consider dentures or dental implants. For years, researchers have investigated stem cells in an effort to grow teeth made for a person’s own cells. Toward this end, endodontics professor Dr. Peter Murray and colleagues from the College of Dental Medicine at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) have developed methods to control adult stem cell growth toward generating dental tissue and “real” replacement teeth. The NSU researchers’ approach is to extract stem cells from oral tissue, such as inside a tooth itself, or from bone marrow. After being harvested, the cells are mounted to a polymer scaffold in the shape of the desired tooth. The polymer is the same material used

Who is a Candidate for Braces?   Why Do I Need Braces?   These are some of the questions, which we will be answering in this article. Who is a Candidate for Braces? Some  recommend that children should be seen for their first orthodontic consultation no later than age 7. While the age of 7 may seem unusually early to consider braces, this pre-screening will give the orthodontist the opportunity to use preventative measures to possibly correct situations that may lead to braces in the future, and /or advise the parent on future orthodontic treatment planning. Adults seeking orthodontic treatment may consult with their dentist at any time, since it is never too late to consider correcting your teeth. The initial consultation with the orthodontist is typically a visual evaluation of the patient’s teeth and facial structure, with discussion to follow. If the orthodontist requires more in-depth information, or the patient agrees to begin treatment, diagnostic records are th

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is a valuable radiographic tool in endodontic diagnosis. With traditional 2D radiography, you see only a coronal view. Historically in endodontics, we have taken the shift shots to try and give us an "angled" view of the tooth. Remember the rule of SLOB? With CBCT, you can evaluate the tooth from sagittal, coronal & axial views. You also have a volume of data that can be manipulated by the computer to rotate the tooth 360 degrees and look at the tooth from any angle. The longer I use this technology, the more convinced I become of its importance and value. The following case demonstrates the benefit of CBCT in endodontic diagnosis. This patient presented to Superstition Springs Endodontic s with chief complaint of "pressure to biting and sensitive to brushing". Root canals on #14 and #15 were done approximately 10 years ago. Our exam found mild palpation tenderness over #14 and #15. Both teeth were pe

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A 52-year-old female presents with heat intolerance, increased appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. He has a history of hepatitis C, and is currently on ribavirin and interferon-alfa. On examination, there is a non-tender swelling on the front of his neck that moves with swallowing. On eye examination, there is no exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia, lid lag, or chemosis. Labs reveal elevat ed total T3 and T4 levels, low TSH level, decreased radioiodine uptake, and increased serum thyroglobulin levels. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient? A. Treatment with a beta-blocker B. Treatment with propylthiouracil C. Treatment with NSAIDs D. Treatment with prednisolone E. Treatment with radioiodine

A 16-year-old boy presents in the emergency department (ED) with an acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma and receives nebulized albuterol and 60 mg of prednisone, after which he feels better. He is discharged from the ED after four hours with a prescription of 60mg prednisone daily. He contacts you after six days and asks if he can stop using prednisone because he now feels completely normal. Wh at is the best response to this patient's question? A. He needs to taper prednisone use over 2months. B. Prednisone can be discontinued rapidly. C. Prednisone should be switched to hydrocortisone, and then gradually tapered. D. He should start taking prednisone on alternate days and then taper it very gradually. E. Prednisone can be rapidly tapered; however, he will require stress doses of glucocorticoids during the next three months if he develops any infection.

Check out our new section ::: QUESTION OF THE DAY. Bring along those buzzing minds to crack some mind blowing questions !! Starts from 20 th May . STAY TUNED . We have introduced this new section . Every day an intersting question will be put up.. For YOU to crack it !!! So.. Bring out the NERD IN YOU ! 

A dental implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium , used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth. Materials used : Metals - stainless steel                Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum based                                    Titanium and its alloys                Surface coated titanium Ceramics - Hydroxyapatite                    Bioglass                    Aluminum oxide  Polymers and composites Others- Gold,tantalum,carbon etc . TITANIUM : Commercially pure titanium is currently the most widely used material for implants. Basically because  : 1.Low density ( 4.5 gm/cm2) but high strenght) 2. minimal biocorrosion due to its passivating effect 3. biocompatible Titanium also has good stiffness. Although its stiffness is only half that of steel,it is still 5-10 times higher than that of bone. CERAMICS :  These may be bioactive or bioinert. Limited application due to their

From being a centre-point of village gatherings to gracing plush joints in metros, the hookah has made a comeback in social space. But its return has sparked concern among cancer experts who say Indian youth are getting addicted to the hubble-bubble in the mistaken belief that it is a healthy alternative to cigarettes. According to the Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2009-10, India accounts for over seven million hookah users among a total of 274.9 million tobacco users. While tobacco is the leading cause of cancer deaths in India, experts say hookah smokers are prone to lung cancer, oral cancer, heart diseases and respiratory disorders. "Over the last two years, hookahs have penetrated urban space and gained enormous popularity among youngsters. Without knowing the harmful effects, youth are addicted to the hookah because of a fashion quotient associated with it," said Dhirendra N. Sinha, regional advisor, Surveillance (Tobacco Control) at the World Healt

Surgical Approach To The Facial Skeleton - Ellis , Zide.PDF BDS Insights - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Facial Trauma - SETH R.THALLER , W.SCOTT MCDONALD - 2004.pdf BDS INSIGHTS - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The use of behavior management techniques will greatly assist the practitioner in obtaining cooperation and compliance of the patient with dementia, particularly in the early stages of the condition. Many patients, who are in earlier stages of dementia than Mrs. K, can be managed by: Providing a friendly and caring atmosphere (smiling, approachable demeanor); Offering a reassuring and comforting approach (tone of voice, gentle touching, etc); Making eye contact and facing the patient; Speaking in a calm, deliberate manner; Eliminating/minimizing distractions (noises, quick movements, etc); Allowing the caregiver to be present, if appropriate; Avoiding forcing the patient to comply; consider rescheduling as a "desensitizing" or "familiarizing" opportunity; and Assessing usefulness of psychotropic medications, such as Ativan (lorazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam), to provide mild sedation, in consultation with the patient's primary care provider. Patie