Medical, Dental and Paramedical students play an important role in oral health care and promotion. Learning in these professional institutions becomes ineffective unless it leads to a profound change in student's behavior and attitude towards improvement of their own personal health. This study aims to find out the difference in oral health knowledge and behavior of clinical medical, dental and paramedical students in the Yenepoya Educational Institutions, Mangalore.

Atherosclerosis and Osteoporosis are two of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the western world. They share common risk factors and many studies suggest an association between arterial calcification and low bone mass possibly due to common etiology.(1-3) The aim of this pilot study is to study the prevalence of osteoporotic changes in patients showing evidence of carotid plaques on panoramic radiographs.

Of the panoramic radiographs done on dental school patients from 2004-2005, 24 radiographs showing frank evidence of carotid plaque were selected and reviewed for osteoporotic changes using the criteria by White et al.(4)

95% of our study patients showed evidence of osteoporotic changes in their mandibular cortex.

Given the results of our pilot study, it is important that dentists should screen for osteoporosis in patients showing carotid atherosclerosis.

Synodontia or fusion is union of two independently developing primary or secondary teeth. In the case reported here, clinical and radiographic examination suggested fusion between maxillary lateral incisor and a supernumerary tooth with the resultant loss of eruption space for permanent canine. Since the teeth exhibited separate pulp chambers without any pulpal involvement, surgical separation followed by odontoplasty was done. Follow-up revealed the tooth to be asymptomatic and sufficient space for eruption of canine was created. The case report highlights the surgical management in case of fusion and timely intervention to prevent periodontal, endodontic and orthodontic complications.

The Mucocele or Mucus retention phenomenon is a salivary gland lesion of traumatic origin, formed when the main duct of a minor salivary gland is torn with subsequent extravasation of the mucus into the fibrous connective tissue so that a cyst like cavity is produced. The wall of this cavity is formed by compressed bundles of collagen fibrils and it is filled with mucin. Mucoceles are known to occur most commonly on the lower lip, followed by the floor of mouth and buccal mucosa being the next most frequent sites. This paper reviews the Mucocele and presents two case reports.

Orodental care is mandatory in radiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients. Radiation therapy of malignant tumors of head and neck is associated with number of side effects, which can lead to acute and chronic oral complications. It is important to prevent and treat orofacial complications which require a multidisciplinary approach. All patients should undergo oral screening before radiotherapy for tumors of head and neck. Many oral conditions, such as poor oral hygiene, broken teeth, defective restorations and periodontal disease, are likely to precipitate complications during and after a course of radiation therapy and it is always better to deal with these problems before starting radiotherapy. The risk of osteoradionecrosis will be reduced to zero if there was a 21-day or greater interval between extraction and initiation of radiation therapy. Systematically applied oral hygiene protocols during radiotherapy may reduce the incidence, severity and duration of oral complications. It is well accepted that tooth extraction should be avoided even after many years of head and neck radiotherapy. If required it should be done by an experienced dental surgeon with proper prophylactic measures. The dental professional plays a relevant role in the prevention and healing or control of the oral complications. The relief of symptoms and the eradication of clinical manifestations largely improve patient quality of life.