To assess and compare differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes and behavior among first and final year dental students in Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India.

In a cross-sectional study, 182 first year students (59 males and 123 females) and 157 final year students (75 males and 82 females) of the two dental colleges in Udaipur city; Rajasthan, were surveyed using a self administered structured questionnaire including 37 multiple choice questions pre-tested through a pilot survey. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 10.0 . The mean percentage scores, standard deviation, and frequency distribution were calculated. The Student's T-test and ANOVA test were used as test of significance. The linear regression analysis were used to assess the relation of knowledge, attitude and behavior.

The mean % score for oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior were significantly higher in final year students compared to first year students. (p<0.001). The linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant linear relationship of attitude with the knowledge (p<0.001) and behavior with the attitude (p<0.001) of the students.

Besides the positive changes revealed in the oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior, among the students from first to final year of dental studies, preventive behavior among the students could still be improved.

Deciphering the relative roles of heredity and environmental factors (“nature vs. nurture”) in the pathogenesis of dental caries and diseases of the periodontium has occupied clinical and basic researchers for decades. Success in the endeavor has come more easily in the case of caries; the complex interactions that occur between host-response mechanisms and mutative microbiologic pathogens in periodontal disease have made elucidation of genetic factors in disease susceptibility more difficult. A critical discussion of the evidence for a hereditary component in caries susceptibility is presented, also from a historical perspective. Recent applications of in vitro methods for genetic analyses in periodontal research are also being discussed, with an eye toward a future in which persons who are at risk, i.e., genetically predisposed to periodontal disease may be identified and targeted for interventional strategies. The evidence for the influence of genetics in dental anomalies and malocclusion has also been discussed. The most important conclusion of this review is: while phenotype is inevitably the result of both genetic and environmental factors, there is irrefutable evidence for a significant genetic influence in many genetic and occlusal variables.

A Idiopathic isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy is an extremely rare condition. Presented here is a case report of self limiting IHNP on the basis of clinical finding and criteria of exclusion as all the investigations including ultrasound were negative. The patient is on speech therapy and is being actively rehabilitated.

A case of a 6 year-old boy is presented with an extensive intraoral central giant cell granuloma, which was initially thought to be a lesion of odontogenic origin. Central giant cell granuloma is an unusual lesion to be found within the oral cavity. Treatment ranges from radical surgical resection to conservative approaches, such as the one presented, with intralesional steroid injections. We would agree with previous work that this as a viable treatment adjunct and possible alternative to surgery for central giant cell granuloma of the jaws.

The long term success of dental implants likely requires the maintenance of healthy periimplant tissues because the soft tissue seal around implants is best when the surrounding mucosa is not inflamed. For this reason, good oral hygiene and regular professional care are essential to maintaining implants. However, despite many years of experience with the implants, there is no standard protocol which defined the most effective regimen for long term implant maintenance. This is a case report of a 63 year old female patient who presented to our clinics with the typical characteristic features of periimplantitis. A special emphasis on the non surgical management of such patient and need of periodic recall for long term maintenance has been highlighted in this case report which will be beneficial to general practioneers as well as periodontologists in management of such patients.