Yuvaraj Vaithilingam

Extraction of teeth is one of the most commonly performed minor oral surgical procedures. However, some clinical situations render routine extractions challenging. Here we report such a situation and a simple and innovative technique that involves the use of braided stainless steel wire to remove an unfavorable palatally inclined left upper lateral incisor with least damage to adjacent structures.

Lingual nerve damage is one of the common complications following mandibular third molar surgery. On considering the impact of lingual nerve damage on the patient’s quality of life, it is necessary to exercise caution to minimize its occurrence.

Odontogenic fascial space infections are commonly encountered by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. A retrospective study of the epidemiological characteristics, microbiological analysis and treatment response to odontogenic infections treated in the oral and maxillofacial unit of a Dental school is presented. A retrospective analysis of case records of all odontogenic infections that reported to the oral and maxillofacial surgery unit in a Dental school over a period of 2 years was performed. Epidemiological data, microbiological profile and treatment responses were analysed. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS statistical package. Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test and nonparametric tests were carried out. A total of 2,140 patients were included in this study. Mandibular third molars were the offending tooth in nearly 40 % of cases with 107 patients becoming symptomatic following a dental extraction procedure. All patients were treated with surgical incision and drainage, antibiotics and local wound care. More than 95 % cases needed intraoral incisions. Penicillin was the drug in most of the cases. The pterygomandibular space was the most commonly involved with 15 % reporting with multiple fascial space involvement. Microbiological analysis showed a predominance of aerobic gram positive organisms with Streptococcus sanguis most commonly isolated. Peptostreptococci and Propionibacterium were the common anaerobes isolated. More than 80 % of the strains isolated were sensitive to penicillin. The average length of stay was 6.3 days. Inadequate documentation with regards to referral patterns, antibiotic history was commonly observed in case records. Penicillin continues to remain the drug of choice for a vast majority of maxillofacial infections of odontogenic origin. A delay in reporting can lead to worsening of symptoms with consequent increase in surgical morbidity and costs of treatment. Preventive dental care remains the best option available to mitigate the consequences of poor oral hygiene. Poor awareness among patient population for regular dental reviews and oral hygiene maintenance emphasises the need for sensitisation and education programs.

Osteoma is a slow growing benign tumor consisting of well differentiated compact or cancellous bone that increases in size by continuous growth. It can be of a central, peripheral, or extraskeletal type. The peripheral type arises from the periosteum and is rarely seen in mandible. Although completely curable with adequate surgical treatment, osteomas precede the clinical radiographic evidence of colonic polyposis/Gardner’s syndrome. Therefore they may be sensitive markers for the disease. Recurrence of peripheral osteoma after surgical excision is extremely rare. However it is appropriate to provide both clinical and radiographic follow up after surgical excision of peripheral osteoma. This article describes the case of a 45 year old male who presented with painless swelling of the right body of mandible and resultant cosmetic facial disfigurement and functional impairment.

To prospectively evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Neocone, Alvogyl and Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) intra alveolar dressings for the management of dry socket and to study the epidemiological factors associated with the condition. All the patients who underwent extraction of teeth and who fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1st January 2012 to February 28th 2013 were included in our study. Patients who were diagnosed to suffer from dry socket were randomly allocated to three groups namely Group A (Alvogyl), Group B (ZOE), Group C (Neocone). Pain relief and healing of the socket were compared between these groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis by Chi Square test, Z test of proportionality. Alvogyl is superior to the other two medications for providing initial pain relief. Neocone provides complete pain relief and the healing was fastest with Neocone. Neocone emerged as the most suitable dressing material for the management of dry socket by virtue of shorter time required for complete pain relief, fewer visits and faster clinical healing.

We designed a prospective study with the objective to evaluate the efficacy, indications and our experience of submental intubation in different types of maxillofacial surgeries. From May 2008 to August 2010, 23 patients with different conditions were intubated by submental route of tracheal intubation and patients were evaluated on different parameters during and after surgery to find its efficacy, indications and utilization in maxillofacial surgeries. All the patients were managed well with this technique of intubation with no significant difference in intubation and extubation time. We did not face any uneventful complication. There was only one reported complication that is rupture of the bulb of cuffed flexometallic tube but was managed well by changing tube. We found skull base access surgery as a new indication for submental intubation. The submental route for endotracheal intubation may be utilized as an alternative to blind nasal intubation or tracheostomy in the surgical management of patients involving complex maxillofacial surgeries. We hypothesized that the submental intubation should not be used where long term ventilation support is needed. We did a technique modification to deliver the endotracheal tube out from the submental region to avoid pilot cuff damage. Our study proposes that skull base access surgery is a safe and potential indication for submental intubation. In our experience submental intubation is a simple, secure and effective procedure for operative airway control in major maxillofacial surgeries.

The management of paediatric mandibular fractures using an acrylic splint is a time-tested procedure. Traditionally, an awl is used to place wires to secure such splints. In this article, we have designed prospective study to compare a new technique of using intravenous cannula stillete (IVCS) as against conventional awl in placement of the circummandibular wires. A total of 45 patients were included in the study. Group I included 22 subjects in whom an awl was used, and group II included 23 subjects in whom IVCS was used for placement of circummandibular wires. Parameters such as post-operative pain, swelling and ease of penetration, size of entry and exit wound and injury to adjacent structures were compared. Statistically significant reduction in post-operative pain and swelling were noticed in groupie. The operating surgeons experienced greater ease in using IVCS, and the size of the entry and exit wounds were also relatively small as compared to using an awl. The IVCS, which is disposable, having finer diameter, a sharp bevel and internal wire carrying capacity, clearly demonstrates statistically significant advantages over the usage of a conventional awl.

A majority of odontogenic infections can be successfully managed with routine incision and drainage and empirical antibiotics. Sometimes an odontogenic infection may spread to contiguous spaces and descend along the neck causing significant morbidity and rarely even mortality. We report a case of an odontogenic infection which had an unusual spread to the anterior chest wall.