Archive for the ‘ Dental Surgery ’ Category

WHAT IS AN ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON?

Truly one of the most poorly understood professions, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have done a poor job of promoting and providing public awareness of our profession. (J Oral and Maxillofac Surg 74:1109-1110, 2016). The basic definition is that we provide “comprehensive surgical care and treatment of the face, jaws, mouth and teeth.” We are the […]

The Risk of Putting Off Extraction of Wisdom Teeth / Asymptomatic Third Molars

An article in the May 2015 issue of JOMS looks at the likelihood that wisdom teeth will need to be removed. (J Oral Maxillofac Surg 73:806-811, 2015). The conclusion is that in most cases the wisdom teeth do need to be removed. What the article does not show specifically and what we know from practice experience is that […]

Tissue Biopsy Punches

Cutting Edge Technique When you have small lesions or small tissue areas for biopsy, we have historically used an incisional or excisional technique using a blade such as a #15 blade. Tissue punches are a nice alternative and give a clean, round tissue cut. You control the depth of the excision as you use the […]

DENTAL ANESTHESIA

During my training, I had the privilege of also going through a one year anesthesia residency which was on top of the typical intensive anesthesia training that goes along with becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. With this residency, I was able to work for the Department of Anesthesiology at Metro Health Center in Cleveland […]

PIEZOSURGERY: SAFER AND BETTER?

We have been using Piezosurgery for our office-based surgeries for many years. This is an advanced technology which uses ultrasonic frequencies to perform bone surgery. We have found it to be a cleaner, easier, less painful, and lower-risk way to perform many of our procedures involving bone and soft tissue treatment such as grafting, bone […]

Orthognathic Surgery in Patients Over 40

Having gone through a residency training program which was strong in trauma, orthognathic, tempromandibular joint, dentoalveolar, and implant surgery I came into practice well versed and confident with these treatments. Over the years, we have progressed with the technologies. Adult orthodontics has become more and more popular which has brought some of these patients in […]

Advanced Physics Topics in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

I was recently introduced to two tissue analysis methods that are on the cutting edge and give us a glimpse of the future of oral and maxillofacial surgery and medicine. Optical Coherence Tomography OCT uses an optical signal to process three-dimensional images that can be taken from biological tissues. The light is from the infrared […]

DRUG-RELATED BONE BREAK DOWN IN THE JAWS

I have seen and treated many cases of drug-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw or DIONJ. This was formerly called bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) but now other drugs have been shown to cause it as well. In this disorder there is bone exposure, bone death, and pain. It typically occurs in the areas […]

DRUG-RELATED BONE BREAK DOWN IN THE JAWS

I have seen and treated many cases of drug-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw or DIONJ. This was formerly called bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) but now other drugs have been shown to cause it as well. In this disorder there is bone exposure, bone death, and pain. It typically occurs in the areas […]

WHAT’S IN A NAME? MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS EXPLAINED

So many people and agencies use the term “oral surgeon” or “dental surgeon” to label oral and maxillofacial surgeons. I have resisted the reference when I can, but I admit that it is hard to say, “Maxillofacial” [/makˌsilōˈfāSHəl/]. If you know how to say it, it rolls off the tongue nicely but most people certainly […]