A coding solution for supernumerary teeth.

In South Africa payments for treatment rendered are routinely delayed because of the medical fund industry's apparent inability to capture codes denoting supernumerary teeth. The suggested protocol allows for up to 13 supernumerary teeth to be identified by two digits. Meetings planned between SADA and key funding stakeholders to "ensure that protocols related to tooth numbering are acceptable", provide the ideal opportunity to introduce the suggested two-digit protocol for numbering supernumerary teeth.

A randomized observer blind comparison of bilateral facial ice pack therapy with no ice therapy following third molar surgery.

This study compares the efficacy of Tecnol bilateral facial ice packs with no cold therapy in reducing pain, swelling and trismus during the first 24 h following third molar surgery. Sixty patients requiring general anaesthesia for removal of bilateral, impacted third molar teeth were included and randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group received Tecnol bilateral facial ice packs following surgery, while a control group received no form of cold therapy.

Eagle's syndrome: lesser cornu amputation: an alternative surgical solution?

A case is reported of a 42-year-old female patient, who presented with clinical symptoms of Eagle's syndrome, radiographic evidence of marginally elongated styloid processes as well as markedly elongated lesser cornua of the hyoid. The symptoms were successfully treated by amputating the lesser cornua of the hyoid. The patient has now been asymptomatic for more than 6 years.

Central calcifying odontogenic cyst. A review of the literature and the role of advanced imaging techniques.

The central calcifying odontogenic cyst (CCOC) is a rare lesion. This paper reports a new case, reviews the clinical, histomorphological and radiographic features reported in the literature and describes the CT and MRI features of this new case. We postulate that, as part of an evolutionary process, cystic COCs originate as unilocular lesions but may later become multilocular.