Chronic Periodontitis is considered to be common dental disease with high tooth mortality as well as morbidity. Reports from different places around the world showed a prevalence of severe periodontitis in around 8-10% of the Population; Sweden 8%, England 7%, The Netherland 10%, Italy 9.6 % and Srilanka 8 %. The aim of the survey was to estimate the prevalence of chronic periodontitis among Saudi nationals in Aljouf Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 310 subjects were selected by stratified cluster sampling technique. They were examined in preselected areas of Aljouf region by using community periodontal index of treatment need. The impact of known risk factors for periodontal disease, e.g., oral hygiene habits, age and smoking. 53% of the subjects and 15.8% of the sextants. Shallow pockets were observed in 39.4% of the subjects and 38.4% of the sextants. Calculus was found to be present in 9.8% of the subjects and 48.8 % of the sextants. Calculus was maximum (53%) in group I (30-40 years) and minimum (21%) in Group IV (60 years and above). Periodontal disease was found to be highly prevalent in the study population (90%) and the periodontal treatment needs increased with advancing age. Nationwide surveys are recommended to assess the periodontal disease which helps in planning prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases.

Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) characterized by a single lesion, with greater frequency in the mandibular jaw. The diagnostic approach is based on a combined analysis of the medical history, the clinical appearance and the radiographic appearance. The diagnosis may be confirmed by the anatomical pathology report. Finally, treatment consists of surgical excision and follow up is characterized by a high rate of recurrence. The authors report an unusal case of OKC of the upper jaw and review the various diagnoses and therapeutics.

There are various grafting materials used for socket preservation of the alveolar ridge following tooth extraction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinically and histomorphometrically healing after tooth extraction with or without placement of a synthetic bone graft and determine the effect on alveolar ridge preservation following extraction. 30 subjects in need of extraction of non-molar teeth were recruited for this study. Recruited subjects were randomly assigned to the group A (with graft material) or control (without graft material) group B. Data were recorded at 6 months after socket preservation procedures. At 6 months, a surgical re-entry was performed; Clinical Measurements and bone core biopsies were obtained for histomorphometric analysis. The control group B had a mean reduction in ridge height of 1.26mm, whereas alveolar ridge height in the test group A was 0.73mm. The test group A was 7.33 ± 1.01 mm compared to 7.23 ± 1.13 mm in group B which were not statistically significant (p = 0.684). Histomorphometric analysis revealed total new bone volume in group A represented 65.6 ± 11% connective tissue 25.6 ± 10.18 % and 8.8% was occupied by residual graft material. The mean new bone volume in group B was 31.23 ± 7.24%, whereas connective tissue formation was approximately 68.78 ± 7.24 %. Both these values were statistically significant when compared with group A. There was no relation with residual graft material as there was no graft material used in group B. A positive response was observed when synthetic graft was applied to extraction sockets, suggesting that it may be useful for preservation of ridge height prior to dental implant placement.