Characteristics of malpractice for TMJ Surgery

An interesting article titled “Characteristics of Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Temporomandibular Joint Surgery in the United States” appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by M. Green and et. al. (April 14, 2022, vol. 80, no. 7, pp. 1153-1157). The article seeks to explore the characteristics of medical malpractice claims that involve temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the U.S. In the article the authors conducted a study using data provided from OMS National Insurance Company, RRG (OMSNIC), which represents approximately 5,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States. Closed malpratice claims data over the time period from from 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020 that was for claims against oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the Unites States with insurance coverage from OMSNIC was studied. Such claims were limited to lawsuits and … Read more

Is it Safe for Children to Receive Sedation/Anesthesia from an Oral Surgeon or Dentist using a Single Provider/Operator Model?

Recently on this site there has been much discussion on updated guidelines put out by various groups that argue that children having deep sedation and anesthesia are not safely being served by dentists and oral surgeons using a single provider/operator model. Instead these guidelines call for a multi-provider model where the person doing the dental work or oral surgery and the person administering and monitoring the sedation/anesthesia are two separate individuals. See the posts AAOMS Pushes Back on Anesthesia Guidelines for Pediatric Patients and Updated Sedation Guidelines in Dentistry for Children for additional details. Some of the individuals leading the charge against the current anesthesia delivery model for children have published a new opinion piece titled “The Single-Clinician–Operator/Anesthetist Model for Dental Deep Sedation/Anesthesia: A Major Safety Issue for Children” published online in JAMA Pediatrics on Oct. 28, 2019 (written by … Read more

AAOMS Pushes Back on Anesthesia Guidelines for Pediatric Patients

Earlier this year in 2019, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA), the American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists (ASDA), the Society for Pediatric Sedation (SPS), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) put out updated guidelines regarding the use of deep sedation and general anesthesia for children at a dental facility. The ASA, SPA, ASDA, and SPS put out a separate distinct set of guidelines from the AAPD/AAP. These guidelines are available from https://www.asahq.org/advocacy-and-asapac/advocacy-topics/office-based-anesthesia-and-dental-anesthesia/joint-statement-pediatric-dental-sedation and the June 2019 edition of Pediatrics in an article titled “Guidelines for Monitoring and Management of Pediatric Patients Before, During, and After Sedation for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures” written by Coté and Wilson, which was previously discussed in the blog post Updated Sedation Guidelines in Dentistry for Children. The guidelines are slightly different but the … Read more

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Using Simulation to Improve Preparedness for Adverse Events with Sedation and Anesthesia

According to the July/August 2019 edition of AAOMS today (vol. 17, no 4) the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has launched a new National Simulation Program allowing for members and staff to practice techniques on manikins. This can allow for better preparedness by receiving feedback on areas that may require additional training. The same simulated events are given to all participants which allows for objective assessments. The courses can offer instant feedback and point out any deficiencies by the surgeon. The goal of such simulation is to improve patient outcomes. AAOMS currently offers simulation programs in Minnesota and South Carolina. A particular focus on the simulation is on training oral surgeons for preventing events that can be devastating such as a death or brain injury. Thus one focus of the simulation is on Basic Emergency Airway Management … Read more

Outcomes Data Registry for Dentistry

Using large amounts of data from many different dentists or surgeons is a way to improve the quality of healthcare. From such clinical data registries in healthcare many things can be gleaned regarding information about individual surgeries or medical devices. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has recently launched OMS Quality Outcomes Registry or OMSQOR for short which is discussed on pages 7-12 of the March/April 2019 issue of AAOMS Today. The groundwork for OMSQOR actually began in 2014 and OMSQOR officially launched in January 2019. The way OMSQOR works is that treatment data from all members who participate will be collected in a national registry that will be used to help improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. Such quality data will allow for tracking surgical outcomes, complications, and possible gaps in treatment. OMSQOR will … Read more