Short and Long Term Impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life After Maxillofacial Trauma.

BACKGROUND: Maxillofacial fracture cases require detailed diagnosis, planning and timely restoration of the proper function and aesthetics of the traumatized tissues, as well as appropriate physical, psychological and social rehabilitation to achieve the best possible treatment outcome. Oral health related quality of life allows oral healthcare professionals to evaluate the efficacy of treatment protocols from patients' perspectives and allows clinician to address and measure the clinically meaningful changes. METHODS: The study was carried out in 86 patients with fracture of any one facial bone from September 2020 to March 2022 in Department of Dental Surgery, Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kohalpur, Nepal. The quality of life was assessed by using Nepali version of Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire, modified to address maxillofacial injury/treatment. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients (male: Female ratio=40:3) were included in the study with mean age of 30.69±11.88 years. Patient with fracture of mandible and midface showed complete recovery on OHIP-14 Scale after 6 months whereas, in patient with panfacial fracture some residual effect in quality of life (0.13±0.50) was seen in two domains psychological discomfort (0.06±0.25) and social disability (0.06±0.25) even after 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Impact of maxillofacial fracture on quality of life is long lasting and huge on patients. Referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist might be beneficial in addition to open reduction and internal fixation of maxillofacial fractures as early as possible to achieve better quality of life in maxillofacial fracture cases.

Dentigerous Cystic Changes in the Follicles Associated with Radiographically Normal Impacted Mandibular Third Molars.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of dentigerous cystic changes in the follicles of radiographically normal impacted mandibular third molars. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen follicles obtained after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars with radiolucency of less than 2.5 mm in the radiograph were sent for histopathologic evaluation to evaluate pathologic changes. RESULTS: The incidence of dentigerous cystic changes observed was 15.9%, that is, 18 out of 113 patients (51 males and 62 females), with the maximum incidence of cystic changes seen in the follicular space size of 0.5 mm. The mean age of the patients included was 27.8 ± 8.1. The most common indication for extraction among the patients in this study was recurrent pericoronitis (95%). There were no statistically significant differences in occurrence of cystic changes based on age, gender, angulation, relation to ramus, depth, side of impaction, and follicle size (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dental follicles obtained from surgically removed impacted mandibular third molars should be submitted for histopathologic examination irrespective of the radiographic size of the follicle.

Frazier Metallic Suction Tube: An Adjunct in Irrigation of Deep Fascial Spaces.

Once incision and drainage of fascial space abscess is performed, irrigation of deep spaces with saline and antibiotic solution should be done daily for effective elimination or reduction of infection. Various advocated aids for irrigation into deeper areas are: small pediatric nasogastric feeding tubes, French catheter, polyethylene irrigation tubes and scalp vein infusion set. All these aids have major inherent disadvantages like, they tend to kink inside the deep spaces limiting the reach of irrigating solution into deeper spaces, are not readily available in dental departments and have to be discarded after every use. Overcoming these disadvantages, a simple yet an effective method is proposed here-use of a Frazier suction tube.