Our Summary

This study looked at the contributions made by trainee authors to the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS) from 2002 to 2016. It found that 72% of the articles had at least one trainee author, and trainees were responsible for 27.6% of all authorships. Over time, the number of trainee articles and authors gradually increased. The study also found that trainee articles were more likely to be about orthognathic procedures (a type of jaw surgery), and more likely to be case reports, series, or retrospective cohort studies. They were less likely to be prospective cohort studies, literature reviews, meta-analyses, or randomized controlled trials. The researchers suggest that more should be done to involve trainees in higher-level studies.

FAQs

  1. What percentage of articles in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery were contributed by trainee authors from 2002 to 2016?
  2. What type of studies were trainee articles more likely to be about in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?
  3. What is the recommendation of the researchers regarding the involvement of trainees in higher-level studies?

Doctor’s Tip

One helpful tip a doctor might tell a patient about oral surgery is to follow post-operative care instructions carefully to ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of complications. This may include guidelines on diet, medication, oral hygiene, and activity restrictions. It’s important to communicate any concerns or unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider promptly.

Suitable For

Patients who may be recommended for oral surgery include those with impacted teeth, jaw misalignment, facial trauma, cysts or tumors in the jaw, obstructive sleep apnea, temporomandibular joint disorders, and orthognathic procedures. Patients with severe tooth decay or infection that cannot be treated with other dental procedures may also be recommended for oral surgery.

Timeline

Before oral surgery, a patient typically goes through the following timeline:

  1. Consultation with oral surgeon: The patient meets with the oral surgeon to discuss the procedure, potential risks, and benefits.

  2. Pre-operative evaluation: The patient undergoes various tests and evaluations to ensure they are healthy enough for surgery.

  3. Preparing for surgery: The patient may need to stop taking certain medications, avoid eating or drinking before surgery, and make arrangements for transportation to and from the surgery.

  4. Day of surgery: The patient arrives at the surgical center or hospital, is prepped for surgery, and undergoes the procedure under anesthesia.

After oral surgery, the patient experiences the following timeline:

  1. Recovery: The patient wakes up from anesthesia and starts the recovery process, which may involve pain management, swelling, and following post-operative care instructions.

  2. Follow-up appointments: The patient will have follow-up appointments with the oral surgeon to monitor healing and address any concerns.

  3. Resuming normal activities: The patient gradually resumes normal activities, such as eating solid foods and returning to work or school.

  4. Long-term follow-up: The patient may need to have long-term follow-up appointments to ensure the surgery was successful and to address any long-term effects or complications.

What to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What specific type of oral surgery procedure do you recommend for my condition?
  2. What are the potential risks and complications associated with the oral surgery procedure?
  3. How long is the recovery process expected to take, and what can I do to promote healing?
  4. Will I need to make any changes to my diet or lifestyle before or after the surgery?
  5. What type of anesthesia will be used during the oral surgery, and what are the potential side effects?
  6. How many times have you performed this specific oral surgery procedure, and what is your success rate?
  7. Are there any alternative treatment options to consider before proceeding with oral surgery?
  8. How much will the oral surgery procedure cost, and will my insurance cover any of the expenses?
  9. What can I expect in terms of pain management during and after the oral surgery procedure?
  10. Are there any specific post-operative care instructions I should follow to ensure a successful recovery?

Reference

Authors: Jazayeri HE, Lee KC, Chuang SK, Le AD, Wang S, Shanti RM. Journal: J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2019 Jun;77(6):1147-1151. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Jan 15. PMID: 30738062