The corticosteroids have been used for preemptive management of surgical sequelae after mandibular third molar extraction. The aim of this article was to review the efficacy of methylprednisolone versus dexamethasone in the management of postsurgical pain, swelling, and trismus after mandibular third molar surgery. Randomized, double-blinded studies from PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, DOSS, Cochrane central, and Web of Science were identified by using a search strategy. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of use of dexamethasone versus methylprednisolone for mandibular third molar extraction were only considered. The studies involving the use of any other corticosteroid agent were excluded. Outcomes assessed were postoperative pain, the number of rescue analgesics required, swelling, trismus, and adverse events. The search strategy yielded 1046 articles for title and abstract screening, out of which only seven studies were included in the systematic review after full text screening. There was considerable heterogeneity between the studies with regards to the method as well as the parameters assessed. Risk of bias was low in three studies and unclear in other four studies. On pooled analyses, there was no significant difference with respect to pain, rescue analgesics, and swelling in the test and the control group. Forest plot analysis showed that dexamethasone had lesser trismus in early postoperative period (postoperative day 2) as compared to methylprednisolone. None of the included studies reported any adverse effects. Both the corticosteroids have similar efficacy in reducing the postoperative pain and swelling; however, dexamethasone showed statistically significant difference from methylprednisolone in reducing trismus (estimated standardized mean difference of −0.69 mm; 95% CI: −1.01 to −0.38; ) in the early postoperative period. However, due to statistical heterogeneity, quality of the evidence for the review was low to moderate. Hence, more studies with larger study sample and low risk of bias are needed to confirm these results.

Soft skills encompass interpersonal abilities and values that enable individuals to adapt to diverse circumstances. In dentistry, a combination of soft and hard skills is crucial for successful practice and for achieving health care organization goals. However, dental schools face significant challenges in teaching and evaluating soft skills, including the subjective nature of assessment, variability in student engagement, and the lack of standardized curricula. The development of ethical and critical thinking skills is essential for students to balance competing interests in the profession while maintaining professionalism, such as dedication, accountability, competence, dependability, and respect for others. Health care professionals, including dentists, must cultivate soft skills to effectively guide and treat patients. This study aims to raise awareness of the importance of soft skills in dental education, specifically highlighting challenges in instruction and evaluation. Key conclusions include the need for a more structured approach to teaching soft skills, integrating them into the broader curriculum, and developing more objective assessment tools. By addressing these issues, dental education can better equip future dentists with the necessary skills for efficient patient care.

Objective Oro-antral communication (OAC) is one of the most frequently encountered complications during third molar extraction. Various radiographic factors, like excessive maxillary sinus pneumatization, long periods of edentulism, periapical lesions, etc., have been considered high-risk factors for OAC. However, a panoramic radiograph has not proven to be accurate in predicting the chances of OAC. Through this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy of a CBCT in predicting the incidence of OAC after maxillary third molar extraction.Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective study in our department, which included the patients who had undergone extraction of a maxillary third molar over five years with the presence of panoramic X-rays and/or CBCT scans prior to extraction. Primary outcomes assessed from the case files were intra-operative complications like OAC, root fracture, tuberosity fracture, pterygoid plate fracture, etc. The incidence of these complications was correlated with the presence or absence of CBCT before extraction.Results Out of 920 extracted maxillary third molar, only 148 teeth (16.1%) had a CBCT record before extraction. The most commonly encountered complication was broken inaccessible root piece/s (4.9%), followed by OAC (3.5%). An inter-group comparison showed that a significantly higher percentage of patients (p < 0.001) with CBCT records had an incidence of OAC (11.5%) as against the group of patients with no CBCT record (1.9%).Conclusion A CBCT scan prior to cases with high-risk factors for OAC can be a valuable tool in accurately predicting the chances of OAC after maxillary third molar extraction.

Presurgical infant orthopaedics (PSIO) appliances are used in the management of cleft lip and palate. Frequently, among all PSIO appliances utilized is presurgical nasoalveolar molding (NAM) appliance. In this review, we looked for the application of the NAM appliance, its efficacy, and biomechanics. A comprehensive search strategy was performed in two databases (Google Scholar and PubMed) for articles using NAM in the treatment plan of patients with cleft lip and palate. Six articles were included in this study with one randomized control trial, two retrospective, and three case reports studies. The studies reveal the NAM is efficient as a presurgical modality treatment for complete cleft lip and palate with multiple benefits, including reducing surgical scars and alveolar gap, used as feeding plate, improve nasal contour, and decreased the number of rectifying surgical procedure.

Background: Extensive ongoing research is aimed at enhancing the efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Even though magnesium itself is not a primary analgesic, it has been shown to increase the effects of analgesics when used as an adjuvant or a supplement. Magnesium sulphate (MgSO ₄ ) has reportedly been used to supplement regional blocks and spinal anaesthesia in various surgical procedures. Building on the concept of MgSO ₄ as an analgesic adjuvant, our study aimed to assess its efficacy in increasing IANB success and controlling postsurgical pain. The split‐mouth study evaluated the effectiveness of adding MgSO ₄ to 2% lignocaine in improving block success and offering postsurgical pain relief after the transalveolar extraction of impacted mandibular third molars (MTMs). Methodology: We carried out a double‐blinded, randomized, split‐mouth study in 26 patients having bilateral impacted MTM. Patients presenting with impacted MTM bilaterally with a Pederson’s score of ≤ 6 were included. The primary outcomes evaluated were the onset time, duration of anaesthesia, need for additional injections, and burning sensation during injection. The secondary outcomes assessed included postoperative pain relief and the quantity of rescue analgesics required. Results: The test side showed a significantly longer duration of analgesia than the control side ( p < 0.001). The MgSO ₄ group showed a lesser requirement for additional injections; however, it was not found to be statistically significant (0.289). No significant differences were seen in postoperative pain and the number of rescue analgesics. Conclusion: The addition of MgSO ₄ to 2% lidocaine resulted in a significantly longer duration of analgesia. Trial Registration: CTRI identifier: CTRI/2018/05/013842