Behind Her Scalpel (eBook)

A Practical Guide To Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery With Stories Of Female

Cathy Hung (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2021 | 1. Auflage
264 Seiten
Indie Books International (Verlag)
978-1-952233-76-0 (ISBN)

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical arm of dentistry, a unique specialty bridging dentistry and medicine. Women are traditionally underrepresented in this specialty due to different reasons. Dr. Hung has brought together a collection of female surgeons to share their personal stories with the aim to inspire more women to pursue the wonderful and fulfilling specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Behind Her Scalpel includes discussions on diversity and inclusion, women in dentistry and surgery, tips and strategies to prepare to be stronger candidates for residency and fellowship, mentorship, leadership, relationships, and starting a family. Whether you are a student, a resident, or a new or seasoned surgeon, this book will help to illuminate your surgical career by rendering courage, knowledge, and strength every step of the way.

CHAPTER 1

What Is Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery?

“Medicines cure diseases, but only

doctors can cure patients.”

—CARL JUNG

When I was a second-year dental student at Columbia University many moons ago, there was a fair about all dental specialties. Each specialty set a table with pamphlets, brochures, and instruments to showcase what a specialist’s future might hold. I distinctly remembered hearing roaring noises from the corner table. I turned my head and saw a group of big guys hovering over a station that displayed, “oral and maxillofacial surgery.” I wiggled my way in only to see a spread of extraction instruments and I was quickly body-blocked. My first organic reaction was that I didn’t feel I belonged because that was the only table full of men.

However, during the last two years of dental school, my clinical rotation in oral and maxillofacial surgery sparkled something within me. One of the first surgical procedures I saw in the VA clinic was a repair of an oroantral communication, a hole between the mouth and the sinus, as a result of an upper molar extraction. I learned upper molar roots could extend into the maxillary sinus, and dental extraction could potentially cause perforation of the sinus membrane, a thin lining between the mouth and the sinus. Perforation would lead to an opening between the mouth and the sinus. This patient complained that every time he drank coffee, it came out from his nose. During my one month rotation, I witnessed the surgeon close the hole in the maxillary sinus with the aid of a small piece of gold foil, which later led to healing and closing of the area. I was fascinated by the execution of the technique and how the human body responded to a simple elegant maneuver. I was inspired by the magical gold foil. For the last two years of dental school, I explored further into the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery, because I was determined to learn more techniques like that to help people resume day-to-day functions most of us take for granted—such as drinking coffee and not having it come out our nose.

What is oral and maxillofacial surgery? The word “maxillofacial” is often confusing and not well understood. Currently, oral and maxillofacial surgery is one of twelve dental specialties recognized by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB). Its definition is as follows:

“Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.” (adopted May 2018)2

Oral Surgeon Or Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon?

Have you been a patient needing an oral surgery procedure? What is your impression of an oral surgeon? One of the most common questions I get from patients is: “What is the difference between an oral surgeon or oral maxillofacial surgeon?”

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is still a less understood specialty compared to other dental or medical specialties. In a recent study from JOMS by Dalmao et al.3 investigating the public and professional perceptions of the scope of practice of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, random surveys were sent to the general public, general dentists, and primary care physicians. It was found that more than 25 percent of the general public is unaware of oral and maxillofacial surgery. There was also a low level of awareness among general dentists and primary care practitioners as to the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Even the nomenclature of DDS (doctor of dental surgery) versus DMD (doctor of dental medicine) is confusing to the general public. Does the connotation of DDS or DMD have anything to do with the type of specialists? (It doesn’t.) Is one better than the other? (They are equivalent.) Most don’t understand why some have dental degrees while others have dental and medical degrees. And the abbreviations— OS as in oral surgery, or OMS as opposed to OMFS in reference to oral and maxillofacial surgery—seem to be used interchangeably. To the general public, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are known as dental and medical specialists. Patients may not always understand why they need to visit different dentists for different procedures. Patients also may not understand why we are sometimes called oral surgeons and other times called oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Even dental students or practicing dentists may not all understand the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

In 1975, the specialty changed its name from “oral surgery” to “oral and maxillofacial surgery.” Most people have trouble pronouncing the word “maxillofacial,” plus oral and maxillofacial surgeon is not as intuitive or self-explanatory as say, an orthodontist or a dermatologist. Inconsistencies in the names and branding within the profession, often omitting the word “maxillofacial” when communicating with patients, are not uncommon. Ameerally et al.4 suggested changing the term “oral and maxillofacial surgeon” to “oral and facial surgeon.” Some practices use “oral facial surgery” in their name. Guerrero et al.5 investigated undergraduate students’ perception of specialty’s name and showed there’s an increased awareness among undergraduate students when “oral facial surgeon” was used instead of “oral and maxillofacial surgeon.” Interestingly, no difference was found among dental students.

Regardless of the type of training programs, four-year or six-year, we are all called oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Some surgeons choose to practice a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery while others prefer a narrower one, naming their practices differently to reflect the procedures performed. There are oral and maxillofacial surgeons who exclusively practice implant dentistry or cosmetic surgery. Many others practice dentoalveolar surgery, or what is considered the “bread and butter” of oral surgical procedures such as surgical extractions and implant surgery with the option of office-based anesthesia. Many surgeons may also hold faculty positions or conduct clinical research in a hospital setting or a teaching institution, or both. One of the advantages of being an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is having a wide array of practice options and flexibility based on area of interest and expertise. You can practice in a private sector, in a university, in a hospital, or a combination of all. Within the scope of practice, you can decide to focus on a few areas or practice a full scope of procedures.

What Does An Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeon Do?

Dental extraction, or exodontia, remains as one of the most common procedures performed in an outpatient setting, with the option to perform outpatient anesthesia. However, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are more than “exodontists,” a term used in the past.

In 1988, the Second Invitational Conference on OMS (IAOMS) in Bermuda developed a consensus regarding the scope of OMS,6 which includes:

•Oral pathology/oral medicine

•Dentoalveolar surgery

•Pre-prosthetic surgery (including implantology)

•Surgical and nonsurgical management of TMJ dysfunction

•Facial trauma

•Oncology

•Regional reconstructive surgery

•Orthognathic surgery

•Microsurgery

•Esthetic surgery

•Cleft lip and palate surgery

•Craniofacial surgery

•Others (as technological advances dictate)

Moreover, the Parameters of Care was originally developed between 1986 to 1988 by a special committee appointed by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) Board of Trustees to address areas of specialty that described patient management strategies, including guidelines, criteria, and parameters. The most recent version of AAOMS ParCare 20177 includes eleven areas of oral and maxillofacial surgery:

•Patient assessment

•Anesthesia in outpatient facilities

•Dentoalveolar surgery

•Dental and craniomaxillofacial implant surgery

•Surgical correction of maxillofacial skeletal deformities

•Cleft and craniofacial surgery

•Trauma surgery

•Temporomandibular joint surgery...

Erscheint lt. Verlag	17.9.2021
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Medizin / Pharmazie ► Zahnmedizin
ISBN-10	1-952233-76-3 / 1952233763
ISBN-13	978-1-952233-76-0 / 9781952233760

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