AAOMS Wisdom Teeth Removal Benchmark Study

An interesting article titled “American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ Anesthesia and Third Molar Extraction Benchmark Study: Rationale, Methods, and Initial Findings” written by Thomas B. Dodson and Martin L. Gonzalez appears in the 2016 Journal of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery (vol. 74, pp. 903-910). In 2007 the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Board requested a benchmarking study to assess practice patterns and outcomes of oral and maxiofacial surgeons (OMS). The study period was 12 months and began June 1, 2011 and ended May 31, 2012. The study was designed to enroll 300 OMSs randomly selected from a list of all active private practice AAOMS members. The first sample included OMSs who had enrolled as practice-based research collaborative (P-BRC) participants. The second sample included patients treated by the OMSs participating in the P-BRC. To be eligible … Read more

Using Fibrin Glue to Help Lingual Nerve Repair

An interesting article titled “Use of Fibrin Glue as an Adjunct in the Repair of Lingual Nerve Injury: Case Report,” was written by Nicholas P. Theberge and Vincent B. Ziccardi and appears in the 2016 Journal of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery (vol. 74, pp. 1899 e1-e4). The article describes a report of a case of a woman in her 20s who had an impacted wisdom tooth removed and developed left lingual nerve numbness and pain. She later had surgery with fibrin glue to help correct the lingual nerve injury. The article reports that most lingual nerve injuries after wisdom teeth removal occurs in 0.4% to 22% of cases. Such an injury can be detrimental to patients and lead to drooling, tongue biting, self-induced thermal injuries, and changes in speech, swallowing, and taste perception. Lingual nerve deficit has been reported to … Read more

Collagen Treatment After Wisdom Teeth Removal

An interesting article titled “Effects of Collagen Resorbable Membrane Placement After the Surgical Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molars,” appears in the 2015 Journal of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery (vol. 73, pp. 1457-1464) written by Isidoro Cortell-Ballester and et. al. The article explores the use of resorbable collagen membranes (RMs) in the healing of a bone defect on the distal side of a lower second molar (L2M) after surgical extraction of an impacted lower wisdom tooth. In recent years, various clinical studies have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy of guided tissue regeneration in the treatment of intraosseous defects and deep periodontal pockets on the distal aspect of lower second molars after surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Nonresorbable expanded tetrafluoroethylene membranes, resorbable polylactic acid and resorbable collagen membranes (RMs), bone graft substitutes, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have been … Read more

Treating with Platelet Rich Fibrin After Wisdom Teeth Removal

An interesting article titled “Evaluation of Treatment Outcome After Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Surgery With the Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study,” appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery written by Nilima Kumar and et al. (vol 73, pp. 1042-1049). The article sets out to explore the effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, periodontal healing near the second molar, and progress of bone regeneration in upper wisdom teeth extraction sockets. Clinicians have identified a subpopulation of patients having wisdom teeth removed that are at ‘‘high risk’’ for periodontal defects after wisdom teeth removal Las Vegas (such as greater than 26 years old, pre-existing periodontal defects [attachment level, >3 mm; probing depth, >5 mm]; and horizontal or mesioangular impaction). The authors studied a patient sample that consisted of 31 patients with … Read more

Bleeding After Dental Extractions in Patients on Warfarin

An interesting article titled “Postoperative Bleeding Following Dental Extractions in Patients Anticoagulated With Warfarin” written by Anthony Febbo and et al. appears in the 2016 Journal or Oral and Maxilofacial Surgery (vol. 74, pp. 1518-1523). The article sought to explore the risk of bleeding in patients on warfarin after dental extraction. Warfarin is the most common anticoagulant used in Australia which can be used to prevent life-threatening thromboembolic events, such as stroke and deep vein thrombosis from occuring in patients at risk. Varying viewing points exisist as how to best handle these patients when a tooth or teeth need to be extracted. Some options include stopping the anticoagulant before extraction or continuing to use it while local hemostatic techniques are used. However ceasing the anticoagulant could be deadly so it is not generally used. The therapeutic effect of warfarin is … Read more