Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · May 2008
Comparative StudyEvaluation of intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement on classifying lower third molars according to the systems of Pell and Gregory and of Winter.
This study evaluated the intraexaminer and interexaminer reproducibility of 2 systems (Pell and Gregory [P&G] and Winter) for classifying the anatomic position of third molars (M3s) and compared these 2 traditional classification systems with a novel computer-based system (Radio Memory software; Belo Horizonte, Brazil). ⋯ The classification of impacted lower M3s based on their position and following the P&G criteria lacks both intraexaminer and interexaminer reproducibility. However, the levels of intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement are very high when attempting to classify the M3s according to their inclination (Winter classification). These results suggest the advisability of using an objective measurement method to minimize the error introduced by observer interpretation.
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · May 2008
Facial trauma coverage among level-1 trauma centers of the United States.
A large portion of patients admitted to trauma centers present with isolated or concomitant facial injuries. Multiple surgical specialties including oral and maxillofacial, plastic, and otolaryngology/head and neck surgeons are trained and involved in the management of oral and maxillofacial trauma. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current distribution of different specialties that cover facial trauma among the leading trauma centers in the United States. ⋯ Treatment of facial trauma is an essential and demanding aspect of all the surgical specialties that provide this service. All major trauma centers require the support of facial trauma specialists for management of these injuries. When considering the ratio of surgeons per specialty and the percentage of facial trauma coverage provided by each specialty, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and plastic surgeons provide the greatest proportion of facial trauma coverage among the level-1 trauma centers that participated in the survey.
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · May 2008
Factors related to patients' anxiety before and after oral surgery.
The purpose of this study was to identify factors that may contribute to anxiety of patients undergoing minor oral surgery before and after the operation. ⋯ To reduce patients' anxiety, underestimated factors, such as jaw fatigue and fluid collection in the mouth, should be taken into account during oral surgery under local anesthesia. In the postoperative period, swelling and difficulty in eating, as well as pain, should also be considered in relieving patients' anxiety.