Aim and background Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a crucial medical specialty focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases and injuries affecting the oral cavity, jaw, and face. There is a lack of awareness about this field in the specific study area of hail. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, awareness, and perception of maxillofacial surgery among healthcare professionals and the public. Methods The study included 225 participants, consisting of dental and medical professionals and the general public in Hail, Saudi Arabia. Convenience sampling was employed, and participants needed to be at least 20 years old and residents of Hail. A validated online questionnaire, translated into Arabic, was used for data collection. Results A proportion (78.2%) of dental professionals were aware of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Among the general population and most medical professionals, the most commonly associated procedures with maxillofacial surgery were the treatment of injuries, bone fractures, and morphological changes in the mouth, jaw, and face, reported by 85.8% of the participants. Furthermore, 60.9% of the participants believed that maxillofacial surgery was the appropriate referral for cleft lip correction. Conclusion The study highlighted significant knowledge about the role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons among the target population. Out of the 225 participants, 137 participants (60.9%) chose the specialty of maxillofacial surgery for surgical intervention to treat cleft lips. Moreover, 75.1% (n = 169) of the participants had previously heard about oral and maxillofacial surgery, while 24.9% (n = 56) had never heard of this specialty. The findings also showed that 189 participants were not aware that a maxillofacial surgeon is responsible for treating severe deformities that cannot be eliminated using orthodontics, such as growth disorders, hypoplasia and hypoplasia of the lower jaw, and asymmetry of the lower jaw (prognathism and retrognathism of the jaw). To bridge this knowledge gap, it is crucial to implement targeted educational initiatives and awareness campaigns among both the general population and healthcare professionals. By increasing awareness and understanding of the specialized role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, patient care can be optimized, and appropriate referrals to these specialists can be ensured. Clinical significance This study shows the importance of increasing awareness of oral and maxillofacial surgery among health professionals and the general public. Improved understanding of this specialty can lead to better patient outcomes and early referrals.

Background/Objectives: Cadaveric models have traditionally been a mainstay of dental and medical education worldwide since their inception. In Australia, educators at dental schools were among the first to use cadaveric porcine heads in formal teaching in oral surgery. This practice has since fallen out of favour in most modern dental curricula. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the utility of cadaveric porcine models for oral surgery training from a student perspective (Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia). Methods: Thirty participants who were all third-year dental students attended a two-hour session comprising a 30 min lecture followed by a 90 min practical workshop. The lecture outlined the steps and supervision of students during the practical and was provided by a consultant maxillofacial surgeon. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were asked to anonymously complete a printed questionnaire with eight questions related to their experience. Results: Prior to the workshop, two-thirds (61%) of participants felt that they had been taught the surgical procedure for raising mucoperiosteal flaps adequately in their dental school curriculum during their third year, although only 43% of students had assisted specialty residents in raising a mucoperiosteal flap and 14% reported having performed the procedure themselves. Almost all students (96%) agreed that the porcine model was useful for their dental education and that they would practice the exercise using the model again if provided with the opportunity. The questionnaire had a 93.33% completion rate. Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that porcine heads present a useful, low-cost adjunct in the learning of basic oral surgical procedures.

UNASSIGNED: Surgical procedures in the anterior mandibular region require a profound understanding of the complex anatomical structures to ensure patient safety. The lingual foramen (LF) and its intra-osseous canal are pivotal structures, supplying vascular and neural support to the mental region. The prevalence of LF is widely recognized, with variations among populations.
UNASSIGNED: The study involved 650 adult participants. Data were collected using high-resolution cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and statistical analysis was conducted, establishing inter-rater agreement.
UNASSIGNED: The population had a varied age distribution, with males comprising 53.23% and females comprising 46.77%. The median lingual canal was found in the Supra and Infra spinosum (65.38%). Most participants had lateral lingual canals (60.92%). The most prevalent lingual foramina was 4 (30.62%). The study found no significant associations between gender and LF diameter, distribution in different travel directions, or LF locations. However, males had a slightly larger diameter.
UNASSIGNED: The findings provide valuable insights into LF variations based on anatomical locations, and there were no statistically significant differences in measurements across different age groups. This knowledge contributes to the evolving field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, ensuring better patient outcomes.

Titanium continues to be the gold standard in the field of osteosynthesis materials. This also applies to pediatric craniofacial surgery. Various resorbable materials have already been developed in order to avoid costly and risky second operations to remove metal in children. However, none of these resorbable materials have been able to completely replace the previous gold standard, titanium, in a satisfactory manner. This has led to the need for a new resorbable osteosynthesis material that fulfills the requirements for biocompatibility, stability, and uniform resorption. In our previous in vitro and in vivo work, we were able to show that molybdenum fulfills these requirements. To further confirm these results, we conducted a proof of concept in four domestic pigs, each of which was implanted with a resorbable molybdenum implant. The animals were then examined daily for local inflammatory parameters. After 54 days, the animals were euthanized with subsequent computer tomography imaging. We also removed the implants together with the surrounding tissue and parts of the spleen, liver, and kidney for histopathological evaluation. The molybdenum implants were also analyzed metallographically and using scanning electron microscopy. A blood sample was taken pre- and post-operatively. None of the animals showed clinical signs of inflammation over the entire test period. Histopathologically, good tissue compatibility was found. Early signs of degradation were observed after 54 days, which were not sufficient for major resorption. Resorption is expected with longer in situ residence times based on results of similar earlier investigations.

UNASSIGNED: The Dental Council of India has included facial plastic surgery in the scope of practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMFSs) in India. However, the knowledge and interests of these specialists towards facial plastic surgery are unexplored.
UNASSIGNED: A descriptive cross-sectional study consisting of a structured questionnaire tool with six domains and 46 questions was circulated amongst registered OMFSs in India. The study consisted of 950 participants. The data obtained from this questionnaire were coded and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and a descriptive analysis was conducted.
UNASSIGNED: The study yielded that only 33% of the participants were completely aware of facial fillers and 30.5% were aware of Botox procedure. However, there was complete awareness of blepharoplasty in 42%, cheiloplasty/palatoplasty in 65.8%, laser facial resurfacing in 23.7% and facial rejuvenation in 23.5% of the participants.
UNASSIGNED: It was found that a high number of OMFSs felt that their exposure to plastic surgery during their post-graduation years was not sufficient.

UNASSIGNED: The number of surgical extractions performed in hospitals in England remains unclear. This study reports the volume of surgical extractions conducted in hospitals and change in activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a nationwide observational cohort study using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England for patients undergoing surgical removal of a tooth (defined using OPSC-4 code F09) between April 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. Procedures were stratified by age, gender, and urgency (elective or nonelective), reported using descriptive statistics, number, and percentage. We conducted post hoc modeling to predict surgical activity to December 2023. In addition, we contrasted this with aggregate national data on simple dental extraction procedures and drainage of dental abscesses in hospital as well as dental activity in general practice.
UNASSIGNED: We identified a total of 569,938 episodes for the surgical removal of a tooth (females 57%). Of these, 493,056/569,938 (87%) were for adults and 76,882/569,938 (13%) children ≤18 years. Surgical extractions were most frequent in adult females. Elective cases accounted for 96% (n = 548,805/569,938) of procedures. The median number of procedures carried out per quarter was 27,256, dropping to 12,003 during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a 56% reduction in activity. This amounted to around 61,058 cancelled procedures. Modeling predicts that this activity has not returned to prepandemic levels.
UNASSIGNED: The number of surgical extractions taking place in hospitals during the pandemic fell by 56%. The true impact of this reduction is unknown, but delayed treatment increases the risk of complications, including life-threatening infections.
UNASSIGNED: The result of this study provides an evidence-based overview of the trends relating to surgical extractions of teeth in England taking place in hospitals. This information can be used to inform service and workforce planning to meet the needs of patients requiring surgical extractions. The data also provide an insight into the oral health needs of the population in England.

Despite improved knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis of the jaw (OMJ), it remains a clinical challenge for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with severe forms of OMJ, i.e., related to the occurrence of major complications or the refractory course of the disease. A retrospective study was performed based on the medical records of all patients diagnosed with OMJ from the past 20 years. Collected data included demographic information, medical and dental history, clinical, radiological, and bacterial findings as well as treatment modalities. The main outcome variables were the onset of major complications and treatment results. Fifty-four patients were included. Our results showed that alcohol and smoking habits, as well as malnutrition, were significantly associated with the occurrence of major complications. We also established that dental implant-induced OMJ should be considered an aggressive subtype of OMJ. Finally, clinical bone exposure was significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes, whereas dental causes or radiological evidence of periosteal reaction were predictive of successful outcomes. Identifying such factors could be useful in preventing serious complications and informing patients about the refractory course of the disease based on the presence of these factors.

OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases are enzymes that participate in numerous inflammatory responses and have been targeted as biomarkers in numerous pathologic states. The detection of active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) using a mouthrinse point-of-care test (POCT) has emerged as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis and other systemic inflammatory states. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the applicability of aMMP-8 POCT in an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic and to evaluate the relationship between aMMP-8 levels and different patient groups.
METHODS: aMMP-8 POCT samples were collected from patients in an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic during a one-month period. aMMP-8 levels were analyzed using a chairside lateral-flow immunotest and a digital reader. Clinically relevant patient variables were collected and descriptively evaluated. aMMP-8 levels over 20 ng/ml were considered to be elevated.
RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were interviewed of which 112 agreed to the test (97.4%). Elevated aMMP-8 levels were observed in 58 (51.8%) patients. Bone loss was noted in 75 (67.0%) patients. Of these patients, aMMP-8 levels were elevated in 47 (62.7%) patients. Patients at an increased risk of infection had 35.5% higher aMMP-8 values on average compared to patients with no prior illnesses.
CONCLUSIONS: aMMP-8 POCT provides a non-invasive and reliable method for measuring aMMP-8 levels. Future studies are warranted to assess the clinical relevance between elevated aMMP-8 levels and specific patient groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The rapid availability of the test score allows an immediate impact on treatment planning.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is among the newest established medical specialties and its full scope is not fully known by other specialties. The aim of the present study is to record the perception of OMFS scope by general medical practitioners (GMPs) of the National Health Service in Greece. A cross-sectional study was conducted in GMPs via a structured questionnaire. Questions involved various head and neck disorders and possible referring medical specialties. 66 answered questionnaires were included in this study. Participants were established to regional health practices, health centres or hospitals. 77.2% of the participants would refer a facial laceration to a plastic surgeon and only 7.2% to an OMFS. 89.3% would refer a zygoma fracture to an OMFS and 10.6% to an ENT. The vast majority would refer a tongue cancer, a neck mass and a mouth lesion to an ENT (74.8%, 81.8%, and 48% respectively). OMFS scope awareness of GMPs can be considered low. Thus, widening the knowledge of OMFS practice in primary grade medical practitioners is of high importance. Early exposure of medical students to the specialty could be a valid option to achieve this target.

With addiction rates and opioid deaths increasing, health care providers are obligated to help stem the opioid crisis. As limited studies examine the comparative effectiveness of fixed-dose combination nonopioid analgesia to opioid-containing analgesia, a comparative effectiveness study was planned and refined by conducting a pilot study.
The Opioid Analgesic Reduction Study (OARS) pilot, a stratified, randomized, multisite, double-blind clinical trial, was designed to test technology and procedures to be used in the full OARS trial. Participants engaged in the full protocol, enabling the collection of OARS outcome data. Eligible participants reporting to 1 of 5 sites for partial or full bony impacted mandibular third molar extraction were stratified by biologic sex and randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups, OPIOID or NONOPIOID. OPIOID participants were provided 20 doses of hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 300 mg. NONOPIOID participants were provided 20 doses of ibuprofen 400 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg. OARS outcomes data, including pain experience, adverse effects, sleep quality, pain interference, overall satisfaction, and remaining opioid tablets available for diversion, were collected via surveys, electronic medication bottles, eDiary, and activity/sleep monitor.
Fifty-three participants were randomized with 50 completing the OARS pilot protocol. Across all outcome pain domains, in all but 1 time period, NONOPIOID was better in managing pain than OPIOID (P < 0.05 level). Other outcomes suggest less pain interference, less adverse events, better sleep quality, better overall satisfaction, and fewer opioid-containing tablets available for diversion.
Results suggest patients requiring impacted mandibular third molar extraction would benefit from fixed-dose combination nonopioid analgesia.
Study results suggest fixed-dose nonopioid combination ibuprofen 400 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg is superior to opioid-containing analgesic (hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg). This knowledge should inform surgeons and patients in the selection of postsurgical analgesia.