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Objectives: To determine the size and position of the Greater Palatine Foramen using CBCT., Materials and Method: GPF was evaluated on 50 CBCT's which were obtained at the Division of Oral Medicine and Radiology, FDS, University of Peradeniya, The distance of each GPF to the mid maxillary suture (MMS), Anterior Nasal Spine (ANS), relationship of the GPF to the molar teeth and diameter were measured in different orthogonal planes using measurement tools integrated to the CBCT software., Results: Mean diameter of the GPF in females and males were 3.72 mm for the right and 3.31 mm for the left and 4.56 mm and 4.30 mm. The antero-posterior distance measured from the ANS to mid GPF in axial sections among females was 45.70 mm and 44.81 mm for the right and left respectively whereas for males it was 48.37 mm and 47.6 mm. The distances in axial sections were 14.82 and 15.14 mm for right and left sides in females whereas in males it was 15.50 and 15.67 mm from the MMS. The same measurement in the coronal plane was 14.93 mm and 15.22 mm for females for the right and left GPF and was 15.63 mm and 15.49 mm in males respectively. There was a significant difference between the distance of ANS to the GPF on both sides and the diameters of GPF in both males and females (p < 0.005)., Conclusion: A significant difference was seen between the mean distance from the ANS to the GPF in left and right sides and the diameter of the GPF on the sides among the genders.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the normal radiographic length of the styloid process (SP), prevalence and type of elongation, and angulation of the styloid process in relation to sex and side on digital panoramic radiographs in a Sri Lankan population., Methods: A total of 100 digital panoramic images selected from the database at the Division of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka were evaluated for the radiological features of the styloid process. Lengths greater than 30 mm were consider as elongated. Elongated styloid processes were also classified into three types based on Langlais classification (elongated, pseudo articulated; and segmented)., Results: The mean radiological length of the SP on the right and left side was 25.8 mm ± 7.5 mm and 23.2 mm ± 9.0 mm respectively. The prevalence of elongated styloid process in males and female were 34.9% and 24.6%. The maximum length observed on right and left sides were 43.2 mm and 41 mm respectively. However, the differences between the genders and the sides were statistically not significant (P = 0.199). The most frequently observed type of elongation was type I (elongated) according to the Langlais classification., Conclusion: This study provides valuable knowledge of the anatomical variations of the SP which may help clinicians from various specialties to diagnose the Eagle syndrome.

Background: Currently there are no reported cancer-specific health state valuations in low- and middle-income countries using a validated preference-based measure. The EORTC-8D, a cancer-specific preference-based measure, has 81,920 health states and is useful for economic evaluations in cancer care. The aim of this study was to develop a utility algorithm to value EORTC-8D health states using preferences derived from a representative population sample in Sri Lanka., Methods: The time-tradeoff method was used to elicit preferences from a general population sample of 780 in Sri Lanka. A block design of 85 health states, with a time horizon of 10 years, was used for the direct valuation. Data were analyzed using generalized least squares with random effects. All respondents with at least one logical inconsistency were excluded from the analysis., Results: After logical inconsistencies were excluded, 4520 observations were available from 717 respondents for the analysis. The preferred model specified main effects with an interaction term for any level 4 or worse descriptor within a health state. Worsening of physical functioning had a substantially greater utility decrement than any other dimension in this population. Limitations are that the data collection could not include the whole country and that females formed a large part of the sample., Conclusions: Preference weights for EORTC-8D health states for Sri Lanka have been derived: These will be very useful in economic evaluations of cancer-related interventions in a range of low- and middle-income countries., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

The lead content of the foil backing of 4 types of intraoral film commonly used by dentists was 69% to 85%. An environmental issue exists because these foils are typically thrown out with regular refuse, even though recycling programs exist. For a new adult patient, a full-mouth radiographic series would generate 11.2 g of waste lead; for a 6-month checkup, waste lead would only be produced if radiographs were required. In an experiment that simulated the acidic conditions that might be expected in a landfill site, 3.5-4.4 mg of lead was released during 17-hour incubation in dilute acetic acid. When distilled double-deionized water replaced the acid, 1.0-2.2 mg of lead was released by the same types of foils. Human health concerns also exist when dental assistants handle lead foil while developing radiographs and fail to change their gloves or wash their hands before handling instruments and dental paraphernalia used in the mouth. Although the amount of lead introduced into the oral cavity would be relatively small, the elimination of sources of lead exposure, especially for children, is important.