Many of us read or heard news reports  recently about the ten year old Missouri boy, Xavier Cunningham, who fell from a tree house and was impaled by a metal meat skewer that was sticking out of the ground. The skewer penetrated his cheek and skull, just under the boy’s eye. Fortunately, the skewer missed all of his major arteries but, as we discussed in a previous article, facial injuries can be life-changing or even life-threatening because of the proximity to blood vessels, arteries, and airways.

Xavier Cunningham was treated by a team of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) neurosurgery specialists from the University of Kansas Health System. Because the skewer had gone through jaw muscle, they could not use a breathing tube and had to go through Cunnigham’s nose to create an airway. Additionally, pulling the skewer out risked major arteries. After hours of surgery, the team was able to remove the rod.

According to the National Library of Medicine, unintentional childhood injury represents an important global health problem. Many injuries experienced by children aged under 5 years occur within the home and are preventable.

As we enter fall and winter approaches it is important to be aware of and to remove yard hazards that may be covered by leaves or snow. Grills and firepits, recreational equipment, poorly-maintained fencing, clotheslines, ground stakes, and other items can all create fall hazards where children play.

Do you have a question about Oral and Facial Surgery, our practice, or our procedures? You may call us at 301-791-1700 or drop us a note here.

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Talk with your doctor if you have any of the follwing risk factors for lip and oral cavity cancer.

Beauty, as they say, may be skin deep, but it’s the underlying structure of the maxillofacial region that provides the foundation for our appearance. While reconstructive surgery is sometimes portrayed as a vain pursuit, the results can provide tangible benefits to your life and health. Studies have shown many times that appearance has a significant impact on hiring, pay, and social standing. But it’s not just a matter of how someone is perceived by others—it’s how someone perceives themselves. People who are happy with their appearance are often more confident and ongoing, which can lead to greater success in life. Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons are trained to treat the skin, muscle, bones, and cartilage of the face and head, and understand more about the balance between appearance and functionality than a plastic surgeon.

The importance of the maxillofacial region goes beyond appearance, however. While it plays an important part in the way we look, it also provides protection to the cranium and critical functions including sight, smell, taste, talking and breathing. Because of this, it is particularly important to get facial injuries diagnosed and treated promptly as they can sometimes be life-changing or even life-threatening.

In addition to injuries, Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons also treat disorders of the head and neck such as impacted teeth, dental implants, jaw and facial structure, oral cancer, temporomandibular joint disorders, as well as cysts and tumors of the jaw.

 

Do you have a question about Oral and Facial Surgery, our practice, or our procedures? You may call us at 301-791-1700 or drop us a note here.

Computer technology increasingly shapes the way we live our lives. With the advent of 3D printing, it is also shaping medical devices and prosthetics, including tooth implants, crowns, and orthodontic appliances.

Today, 3d printers are mostly being used in dental labs, replacing dental milling systems for crowns, dentures, implants, and guides. A recent report from SmarTech Publishing, a leading provider of industry-analysis services, suggests that by 2027 3D printing technology will mostly be found in dental offices, enabling dentists and oral surgeons to perform many of these tasks internally. Combined with intraoral 3D scanners, 3D printers may provide faster, safer, more cost-effective treatment.

According to the report, “Patients are a primary driver of the digital dentistry revolution currently taking place, because ultimately most patients choose where to receive care.” The report goes on to say that patients do not like the current process of making physical dental impressions and the discomfort of poorly fitted devices and are looking for alternatives.

In addition to dental implants and devices, 3D printers can be used to create guides for more accurate drilling and implanting directly in the dental office. Previously drilling guides were costly and took several weeks to produce.

Improvements in software have reduced the learning curve, and in-office desktop systems that use certified dental printing resins are increasing available for under $5,000.

 

Do you have a question about Oral and Facial Surgery, our practice, or our procedures? You may call us at 301-791-1700 or drop us a note here.

Pain or no pain, your wisdom teeth should be checked every year. If wisdom teeth come in properly and meet the right conditions, they are generally safe to keep. But left unchecked, they can put you at risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and damage to adjacent teeth.
Some wisdom teeth grow in at such an angle that they never break through the gum, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, cysts, and tumors. These impacted teeth can only be seen on X-rays, so the damage they may cause can go undetected if they are not checked by a dental professional.

Some people just don’t have enough room for another tooth in their mouth, so their wisdom teeth can affect adjacent teeth when they come in. This can make it difficult to chew, difficult to keep them all clean, and misalign your teeth. Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but they all do need to be monitored by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Find a surgeon near you for a complete examination. If your wisdom teeth do need to be removed, the procedure can be done in an office setting with minimal postoperative pain and swelling. Remember, pain or no pain, your wisdom teeth should be checked every year.

© American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons