Establishing the reliability of incisive papilla and palatal rugae patterns in individual identification.

Context: The study of palatal rugae forms an important basis of human identification, especially due to mass disasters where routinely used techniques may not be helpful.

Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the palatal rugae and incisive papilla on the basis of shape.

Settings And Design: The study was conducted in 280 individuals (males and females) among dental students of Dayananda Sagar College of Dental Sciences.

Estimation of human somatype using inter-canine and inter-premolar distances of the maxillary arch.

Context: The establishment of a correlation between tooth dimensions and body size is crucial within the realm of forensic odontology. While numerous investigations have focused on the association between tooth morphology or width and stature, limited reports exist regarding the correlation between overall body structure or build and odontogenic parameters. This study focuses on finding a correlation between inter-arch dimensions and the body build of an individual.

Immunohistochemical study of alpha-smooth muscle actin in odontogenic cysts and tumors.

Context: Myofibroblasts (MFs) are fibroblasts with smooth muscle-like features characterized by the presence of a contractile apparatus. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is the actin isoform that predominates within vascular smooth muscle cells and plays an important role in fibrogenesis. MFs are metabolically and morphologically distinctive fibroblasts expressing α-SMA, and their activation plays a key role in development of the fibrotic response.