Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a rare benign mixed odontogenic tumor characterized by both soft tissue proliferation and dental hard tissue formation. This case report presents a 16-month-old male with AFO in the anterior mandible, representing one of the youngest documented cases. The patient presented with progressive facial swelling first noted at 10 months of age. Clinical examination revealed facial asymmetry with non-tender buccal expansion, while CT imaging demonstrated a well-defined 23×28mm lytic lesion with internal calcifications in the right parasymphyseal region. Treatment consisted of conservative surgical enucleation and curettage under general anesthesia, with extraction of involved teeth. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of AFO, showing islands of ameloblastic epithelium within mesenchymal stroma and evidence of dentin and cementum formation. A literature review of AFO cases in children under 5 years (2014-2024) yielded eight cases with equal gender distribution and no clear predilection for maxilla versus mandible. All reported cases showed lesional expansion, and most were treated with enucleation and curettage with no recurrence noted during follow-up periods. The patient recovered uneventfully with resolution of facial asymmetry and showed no signs of recurrence at six-month follow-up. This case highlights that AFO could manifest at an exceptionally young age, expanding the recognized age range and underscoring the effectiveness of conservative surgical management for this rare odontogenic tumor.

Background: Oral health is a critical yet often neglected component of cleft care. Individuals with cleft lip and palate (CLP) are predisposed to a higher risk of dental caries and poor oral hygiene due to anatomical, functional, and behavioral challenges. Despite national public health efforts, limited data exist from India on the oral health status of this vulnerable group. Objective: To evaluate the oral health status of 5, 12, and 20 year olds, non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients regarding history of dental care and present dental status. Methods: This multicentric cross-sectional study, conducted as part of the Cleft Care India Study (CCIS), evaluated oral health parameters in individuals with non-syndromic UCLP across 14 cleft centers in India. Patients were assessed for various parameters of oral hygiene practices through a standardized data collection form. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results across the 3 age groups. Results: Of the 296 UCLP patients, 36% of 5 year olds, 41% of 12 year olds, and 29% of 20 year olds had never visited a dentist. Mean dmft/DMFT for 5 year olds was 5.6, for 12 year olds was 3.4 and for 20 year olds was 3.0. Data on active caries showed 53% of 5 year olds, 34% of 12 year olds, and 14% of 20 year olds had untreated caries. Data on plaque levels showed 47%, 60%, and 76% of 5, 12 and 20 year olds had visible deposits. The prevalence of enamel hypoplasia was highest in 5 year olds (32%), and hypodontia was most common in 20 year olds (52%). Around 70% of 5 year olds, 75% of 12 year olds, and 80% of 20 year olds had never visited a pediatric dentist. Conclusion: The findings highlight a substantial unmet need for dental care among Indian patients with UCLP. Channelized referral systems and service centralization could reduce this care burden. Integrating pediatric dental services within cleft care teams is essential for improving oral health outcomes in this high-risk population.

Illegal wildlife trade and habitat degradation displace thousands of animals annually in Southeast Asia, with many confiscated primates housed in rehabilitation centers that increasingly function as long-term holding environments. In slow lorises, dental clipping associated with the pet trade may generate persistent disruption along the oral-gut axis, potentially undermining physiological readiness for release in ways not captured by conventional screening. Here, we evaluated whether microbiome structure provides an integrative marker of release readiness in rehabilitating Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus). From June to October 2024, we collected fecal (n = 26) and saliva (n = 18) samples from 19 adults housed at YIARI, including 10 release candidates and 9 non-candidates classified primarily based on tooth loss, medical history, and release suitability. Bacterial communities were characterized using 16S rRNA (V3-V4) amplicon sequencing, with alpha and beta diversity, taxonomic enrichment (LEfSe), and predicted functional profiles (PICRUSt2) assessed. Microbiome composition was strongly compartmentalized by body site, with higher alpha diversity in the gut. Release candidacy was associated with modest gut compositional differences, whereas oral microbiomes showed pronounced divergence between candidates and non-candidates. Non-candidates were enriched in dysbiosis-associated taxa and degradation-oriented functional pathways, while candidates showed enrichment of biosynthetic and central energy metabolism pathways. Gut microbiome structure was stable across pre-release and soft-release phases. These findings indicate that oral and gut microbiomes represent distinct physiological niches and that persistent oral microbiome restructuring may retain signatures of cumulative rehabilitation history. Microbiome-informed approaches may provide complementary insights into physiological variation relevant to rehabilitation and release decisions.

The aim of this article was to evaluate clinical outcomes of single immediately placed and restored dental implants using a co-axial inverted body-shift design with a synthetic graft material in the anterior maxilla. A prospective case series was conducted on patients receiving single immediate implants in the anterior maxilla. Sixteen-month clinical and radiographic assessments included biological and technical complications, gingival margin stability, papilla preservation, and aesthetic outcomes using the modified Pink Esthetic Score (modPES) and White Esthetic Score (WES). Post-operative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) measured labial plate thickness, and serial intra-oral scans quantified soft-tissue changes. Fifteen patients were evaluated at 16 months. Mean modPES was 7.5 and mean WES was 7. CBCT showed a mean labial plate thickness of 1.5 mm (0.6-3.1 mm). Buccal crest position was coronal to the abutment in 11/15 cases (mean +1.1 mm). Soft-tissue changes showed mean mid-facial recession of -0.5 mm, mesial papilla loss of -0.5 mm, and distal papilla loss of -0.3 mm. To conclude, immediate placement and loading using this implant design, combined with the dual-zone approach and synthetic grafting, resulted in minimal soft-tissue change, maintained papillae, and yielded high aesthetic scores, supporting it as a predictable option for anterior single-tooth replacement.

Framing physical beauty as a barometer of health, this article charts the dialogue between early modern medical instruction (regimens and recipes) and figurative artworks. This dialogue took on new potency in the Renaissance with the widespread circulation of medical regimens and recipes in print, and reinvigorated cultural imagery that foregrounded the body. At the same time, the threat and lasting impact of infectious diseases on the skin, including smallpox and syphilis, and Europeans' growing contact with individuals from Africa, Asia and the Americas, heightened awareness of bodily vulnerability and difference. Mythological paintings, images of the lady at her toilette and portraits are analysed to demonstrate the parallel medical and visual interests in 'natural' beauty and its associated healthful appearance, cultivated through cleansing the face, hands, hair and teeth. Reading figurative artworks alongside medical regimens and recipes demonstrates the close perceived relationship between physical beauty and health; the influence of medical theory, including humouralism, on depictions of the body; anxieties and interventions related to disease and race; and the central role of women as experts, providers and consumers of body care. Taking a regional view with artworks and texts from early modern Italy, France, Germany, England and the Dutch Republic, this article highlights the potential for visual studies in the medical humanities to develop understanding of past beauty practices while also acknowledging limitations and suggesting future lines of research.

Painful temporomandibular disorders (p-TMD) frequently co-occur with headache and other musculoskeletal pain conditions, yet longitudinal evidence from preadolescence remains limited. This study examined whether preadolescent spinal pain is associated with p-TMD and headache in young adulthood. Data were obtained from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Participants aged 18 years or older, who completed a validated TMD pain screener and headache questionnaire were included. Spinal pain at age 11 years (neck, middle back, and low back) was assessed using a modified Young Spine Questionnaire and categorized into three intensity/frequency groups. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sex, sleep quality, mental health, and maternal socio-occupational status. Inverse probability weighting was used to reduce selection bias. Among 11,982 eligible participants, spinal pain data were available for 9,639. Compared with participants reporting no or mild intensity and/or low-frequency spinal pain, those reporting moderate-to-severe intensity and/or high-frequency spinal pain in preadolescence had significantly higher odds of p-TMD in young adulthood (neck: OR 1.85, 95%CI 1.52-2.25; middle-back: OR 1.74, 95%CI 1.34-2.21; low back: OR 2.16, 95%CI 1.64-2.85). Similar associations were observed for headache (neck: OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.49-2.20; middle-back: OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.20-2.00; low back: OR 1.64, 95%CI 1.24-2.16). Spinal pain in preadolescence was associated with significantly higher odds of p-TMD and headache in young adulthood. These findings suggest that preadolescent spinal pain may represent an early marker of vulnerability to p-TMD and headache in young adulthood. Perspective This longitudinal cohort study demonstrates that spinal pain in preadolescence was associated with significantly higher odds of p-TMD and headache in young adulthood. These findings highlight the potential relevance of early-life spinal pain when considering later pain conditions across important developmental stages.

Internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a common condition that is characterized by an abnormal relationship between the articulating disc and the mandibular condyle, often resulting in pain during jaw movements, joint sounds, and restricted mouth opening. Etiology of ID of TMJ is often multifactorial, involving functional, mechanical and biological factors that disturb the normal relationship between the disc and the condyle. Management strategies range widely from conservative therapy, minimally invasive procedures, to invasive surgical procedures. Arthrocentesis is a procedure that is minimally invasive, involving lavage of the superior joint space of the TMJ using needles to remove inflammatory mediators and release adhesions of the disc to the mandibular fossa. Also, there is an increasing interest in minimally invasive regenerative approaches that can heal the injured disc and attachments of the articular disc. Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF), which is an autologous blood product, is rich in growth factors and has shown very promising results in reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair. i-PRF can easily be produced by centrifuging autologous blood at 700 rpm for a very short time of 3 minutes. This case series evaluates the clinical outcomes of arthrocentesis followed by intra-articular i-PRF injections into the upper joint space in three patients diagnosed with TMJ internal derangement. All three patients presented with pain, limited mouth opening, and joint sounds. MRI investigation was done, and found one patient with an anteriorly displacing disc with reduction during opening and closing the mouth, and two patients with an anteriorly displacing disc without the disc reducing during opening and closing the mouth. Clinical parameters like intensity of pain measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), joint sounds, maximum mouth opening (MMO), functional limitation and patient satisfaction were assessed preoperatively and during follow-up at one week, one month and three months postoperatively. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in pain scores, with mean VAS decreasing from 5.67 preoperatively to 0 at three months post-treatment. Mean maximum mouth opening improved from 32 mm to 39.3 mm, and joint sounds were eliminated in all cases at three months post-intervention. No complications or adverse effects were observed during and after the procedure. All three patients were satisfied with the treatment outcome. These findings suggest that arthrocentesis, which is followed by intra-articular injection of i-PRF, is a safer and effective treatment option for TMJ internal derangement, providing significant symptomatic relief and functional improvement. Further studies with larger sample sizes, post-intervention MRI scan evaluation after three months and longer follow-up periods were recommended to validate these outcomes.

Functional imaging of neural structures at the base of the cranium, including the trigeminal ganglion (TG), is technically challenging due to limited optical access. The TG-the largest sensory ganglion in the head-houses primary afferent neurons that relay information from the teeth, oral cavity, and face, yet investigation of somatosensory processing at the population level has remained limited. Here, we present a surgical procedure for an optical-window preparation that enables direct optical access to the TG. The ganglion is exposed by a large temporal craniotomy with removal of overlying tissue, and a glass cuboid is then placed in direct contact with the TG to suppress motion while maintaining the cranial cavity as a closed compartment without continuous perfusion. This preparation allows reliable visualization and recording of individual TG neurons during controlled stimulation of diverse facial and intraoral sites. Our approach provides a practical platform to map peripheral sensory representations within the TG and to investigate mechanisms underlying dental sensation, orofacial pain, and trigeminal circuit function. Key features • Establishes stable optical access to the mouse trigeminal ganglion using a hemispherectomy-based glass cuboid cranial window preparation. • Reduces motion artifacts through direct cuboid-TG contact, enabling robust single-neuron calcium imaging. • Provides a large field of view of the whole TG with fluorescence microscopy hardware and supports imaging in vivo.