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