oral surgery

Invasive dental procedures linked to heart inflammation

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An interesting study titled “Endocarditis, invasive dental procedures, and antibiotic prophylaxis efficacy in US Medicaid patients” appears in Oral Diseases on April 27, 2023, written by Martin Thornhill and et. al. The study investigates the association between invasive dental procedures and endocarditis, which is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves. In the study the authors used the MarketScan multi-state Medicaid database to examine 1.68 million Medicaid patients with linked medical, dental, and prescription data and compared it to 7.95 million individuals with employer-provided Commercial/Medicare-Supplemental health coverage with linked dental and prescription benefits. The authors found that the cohort study showed increased endocarditis incidence within 30 days of invasive dental procedures in those at high risk, particularly after extractions or oral surgery. It was also determined that antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced endocarditis incidence following invasive … Read more

Platelet-rich fribin may help to carry antibiotics for oral surgery

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An interesting article titled “Can platelet-rich fbrin act as a natural carrier for antibiotics delivery? A proof-of-concept study for oral surgical procedures” written by Francesco Bennardo and et. al appears in BMC Oral Health (March 9, 2023, Vol. 23, No. 134). The article seeks to investigate the role of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as a carrier for antibiotics delivery for oral surgery. In the article the authors discuss how mntimicrobial resistance threatens globalhealth and that judicious prescribing of antibiotics by dental surgeons is needed to help prevent antibiotic resistance. Directly targeting tissues with local drug deliverystrategy has been shown in prior studies as a viable option to reduce unnecessaryantibiotics. In particular autologous platelet concentrates promote tissue healing by releasing autologous growth factors over time and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) belongsto a second-generation of this type that did need manipulation after blood collection. … Read more

Pseudoaneurysm after wisdom teeth extraction

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An interesting article titled “Pseudoaneurysm following “routine” third molar extraction: a case report and review of the literature” appears in the March 2022 edition of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases written by J. J. Heifetz-Li and S. Abdelsamie (vol. 8, no. 1,100249). The article presents a case of unusual bleeding following wisdom teeth surgery in a healthy 17 year-old. In the article discussion is made of a 17 year old teenage woman who has her complete bony impacted wisdom teeth extracted at an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery outpatient clinic. She had no known signficant past medical history. The removal of her wisdom teeth was considered to be a routine extraction that involved a distal “hockey stick” incision, to raise the full-thickness mucoperiosteal flap to get to the crowns. The teeth were removed without damaging any nerves nearby and no excessive … Read more

A case of bilateral kissing molars

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An interesting article titled “Bilateral ‘kissing’ molars: A case report” appears in Clinical Case Reports written by Bilal Aslam- Pervez and Emma Carr (2022;10:e06407). The article discusses a case of a 20 year old man who had a very rare bilateral kissing molars impaction. Kissing molars occur the occlusal surfaces of impacted molars are united by the same follicular space and the roots point in the opposite direction. This typically occurs between wisdom teeth and second molars, but can also occur between wisdom teeth and the fourth molar. In the article discussion is made of the 20 year old man who went to a hospital in Scotland complaining of a dull ache for the last year. The patient was healthy but did smoke around 10 cigarettes a day for the last few years. Upon examination a total of 7 teeth … Read more

Using the sedative Remimazolam for oral surgery

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An interesting article titled “Can Remimazolam Be a New Sedative Option for Outpatients Undergoing Ambulatory Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?” appears in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Zijian Guo and et. al. (Available online 16 September 2022). The article discusses the sedative remimazolam and its possibility to sedate in oral surgery as effectively as midazolam. In the article the authors discuss how patients can receive dental treatment with more comfort using sedation. Midazolam is widely used in oral and maxillofacial surgery but has side effects of increased accumulation and respiratory depression. Remimazolam has similar pharmacological effects to midazolam but has rapid onset, fast metabolism, less potential adverse effects. Remimazolam has a a mean half-life of between 0.5 and two minutes and a terminal half-life in plasma of 37 to 53 minutes.  The authors conducted the first ever … Read more