Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has emerged as a promising tool for the analysis of the upper airway, leveraging on its ability to provide three-dimensional information, minimal radiation exposure, affordability, and widespread accessibility. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in CBCT for airway analysis has shown improvements in the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosing and managing airway-related conditions. This review aims to explore the current applications of AI in CBCT for airway analysis, highlighting its components and processes, applications, benefits, challenges, and potential future directions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on studies published in the last decade that discuss AI applications in CBCT airway analysis. Many studies reported the significant improvement in segmentation and measurement of airway volumes from CBCT using AI, thereby facilitating accurate diagnosis of airway-related conditions. In addition, these AI models demonstrated high accuracy and consistency in their application for airway analysis through automated segmentation tasks, volume measurement, and 3D reconstruction, which enhanced the diagnostic accuracy and allowed predictive treatment outcomes. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in the integration of AI into clinical workflows. Furthermore, variability in AI performance across different populations and imaging settings necessitates further validation studies. Continued research and development are essential to overcome current challenges and fully realize the potential of AI in airway analysis.

Lipomas are slow-developing benign tumours composed of adipose cells depicted as “yellow epulis” by Roux in 1848. Lipoma occurrence is uncommon in oral cavity but even more rare in the tongue region. They present as yellowish, painless mass that may occasionally lead to functional and aesthetic complications. This paper describes a 55-year-old female having multiple tongue lumps that causes mastication difficulties. The lumps were excised in total from its base. The postoperative recovery was uneventful, and no complications were noted. The lumps were histopathologically identified as fibrolipoma which is a variant of lipoma. Histologically fibrolipoma shows infiltrative feature onto adjacent tissue, creating confusion in differential diagnosis. Thus, it is imperative that a careful histological assessment coupled with regular follow-ups are done especially considering the unusual development of fibrolipoma on the tongue.

Objectives Dental anxiety is ultimately related to the fear of pain, more evidently seen in surgical dental procedures. This study aimed at comparing the stress parameter differences between patients undergoing minor oral surgery (MOS) with their eyes covered (closed) versus uncovered (open) at our center. Materials and Methods Twenty-three MOS patients were draped with eyes covered, while another 23 MOS patients were draped with eyes uncovered. Stress parameters such as systolic and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, random blood glucose, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-6 questionnaire score were recorded accordingly in the different intervals; then statistically analyzed later. Results Closed eyes patients had significantly lower mean DBP and MAP (73.91 ± 6.80/88.94 ± 6.88 mm Hg) as compared with open eyes patients intraoperatively. Though significant only in the postoperative phase, the closed eyes group had a relatively lower mean heart pulse rate than the open eyes group in all surgical intervals. Postoperatively, closed eyes patients had lower mean blood glucose level as compared with open eyes group. STAI mean score revealed a higher psychological stress for closed eyes patients versus open eyes patients. Conclusion Closed eyes patients displayed lower quantifiable physiological stress level as compared with patients undergoing MOS draped with eyes uncovered. However, in qualitative psychological context, closed eyes draped MOS patients responded poorly as compared with opened eyes draped patients under similar surgical stress.

Background: Odontomas are known as the most common form of odontogenic tumour composed of mixed odontogenic origin. These are usually discovered accidentally during routine or diagnostic radiographic investigation. Compound odontomas often present themselves in the maxillary incisor-canine region while complex odontomas are found in the mandibular premolar-molar region. Odontoma though symptomless occasionally can interrupt the eruption of underlying teeth causing aesthetic and occlusal discord especially in the anterior maxilla region. Case: A 31-year-old female presented with pain and presence of an abnormally shaped tooth on her upper right anterior maxilla region. The tooth was diagnosed as compound odontoma and causes an impact of an underlying maxillary lateral incisor. Surgical assisted eruption of the impacted lateral incisor was done after removal of the odontoma, followed by exposure of the impacted tooth crown and gradual orthodontic-guided traction into occlusion. Conclusion: A combined (surgical-orthodontic) approach is deemed to have a higher prognostic value and optimal outcome for the impacted maxillary incisor associated with odontoma.