We present a case of a 6 year old boy with a history of soft tissue injury caused by a toothbrush, the snapped head of which lodged into the medial aspect of the right ramus of the mandible. A survey of literature confirms that most injuries of this kind can be treated conservatively; however careful assessment by an experienced clinician is necessary to rule out other complications. The present paper discusses the prevalence, management and complications associated with impalement injuries of the oral cavity in children.

A rare case of fusion of two deciduous teeth with a supernumerary tooth is reported. The fused teeth were causing deviation of the path of eruption of the permanent tooth. Thus extraction was planned for them. The histological section of the extracted tooth confirmed the phenomenon of fusion. Long term follow up showed normal eruption of the permanent tooth there after.

Halitosis is a very common condition which may affect up to 30% of the population. In most cases the aetiology of the condition is from local oral causes (oral malodour). Oral malodour is the result of the action of anaerobic bacteria in producing a range of malodorous molecular species including volatile sulphur compounds. Patients with halitosis may seek treatment from dental clinicians for their perceived oral malodour. Physiologic halitosis, oral pathologic halitosis and pseudo-halitosis would be in the treatment realm of dental practitioners. Management of oral malodour is directed at managing and reducing the bacterial load both in periodontitis and in tongue coatings by instituting proper oral hygiene measures, control of tongue flora by brushing or scraping, and possibly the adjunctive use of antiseptic agents. Treatments have also been proposed to neutralise malodorous compounds by chemical agents to mask the presence of the condition. Further evidence is required to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of therapies for this troublesome condition. The purpose of this article is to review the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of oral malodor from a periodontal perspective. The review will be limited to bad breath odors originating within the mouth.

Tissue engineering will have a considerable effect on dental practice during the next 25 years. The greatest effects will likely be related to the repair and replacement of mineralized tissues, the promotion of oral wound healing and the use of gene transfer adjunctively

The concept of Biologic Width has been widely described by periodontists and restorative dentists. An adequate understanding of relationship between periodontal tissues and restorative dentistry is paramount to ensure adequate form, function and esthetics, and comfort of the dentition. While most clinicians are aware of this important relationship, uncertainty remains regarding specific concepts such as biologic width and indications and applications of surgical crown lengthening. These violations lead to complications like gingival inflammation, alveolar bone loss and improper fit of the restorative component. An attempt has been made in this article to discuss the concept of biologic width, its importance in maintaining a long term dental restoration including crown & bridge and implants, and the implications of biologic width violation. Lastly, we discuss the possible methods to assess biologic width and surgical & non-surgical corrective procedures.