Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Professional Career of Women in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The COVID-19 pandemic altered all facets of society on a fundamental level, impacting work, mental health, and family life. Female surgeons experienced gender inequity and bias before COVID; therefore, women in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) were affected disproportionately by the repercussions of the pandemic. Well-established inequalities are intensified during times of crisis. This article enlightens readers regarding the preexisting inequalities in the OMS specialty, how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these ubiquitous issues, and how the specialty should accommodate these inequities moving forward.

Chronic facial pain in the female patient: treatment updates.

Over the past decade, gender-related differences in pain and analgesia have been examined in experimental settings with conflicting evidence on whether men and women differ in their response to pain. New advances in research have begun to investigate the influence of genetic factors in moderating sex differences in analgesic response. This article provides oral and maxillofacial surgeons with evidence-based data on the issues of chronic pain between the sexes to suggest alternative approaches to the management of pain in their male and female patients.

Congenital epulis of the newborn: a case report.

Congenital epulis of the newborn is a rare soft tissue manifestation that affects infants, involving predominantly the maxillary ridge. When identified, generally at birth, excisional biopsy is recommended to avoid feeding and respiratory disturbances. This article presents a case report of a female infant who was referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgery facility for removal of a fibrotic mass present on the mandibular alveolar ridge. Diagnosis and prompt intervention can prevent expected complications such as failure to thrive or respiratory difficulty. Pediatric and general dentists should be familiar with oral pathologies that may affect the newborn or infants so that early diagnosis and treatment can be accomplished.

Oral ulcerations as a sign of Crohn's disease in a pediatric patient: a case report.

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory intestinal disease of unknown etiology. The disease primarily affects whites, with both sexes being affected equally. A genetic predisposition exists. Symptoms frequently present in the second to third decades of life, although they may present in the pediatric and/or geriatric populations. Oral lesions are significant as they are frequently reported to precede intestinal symptoms. Treatment of Crohn's disease is palliative, with a focus on remission. Pediatric and general dentists play a critical role in the early diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Evaluation of a pediatric patient with complaints of oral ulcerations, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, and/or weight loss requires prompt referral to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation for Crohn's disease.

A comparative study of barrier membranes as graft protectors in the treatment of localized bone defects. An experimental study in a canine model.

Guided bone regeneration is a predictable and well-documented surgical approach for the treatment of deficient alveolar ridges prior to endosseous implant placement. The purpose of this study was to compare a new resorbable membrane (GORE RESOLUT ADAPT Regenerative Membrane, i.e. 67% glycolide (PGA) : 33% trimethyline carbonate (TMC)) with Bio-Gide, a resorbable collagen membrane. Five canines were used in the study. Three saddle-type osseous defects were created bilaterally in edentulous areas of the mandible. The defects were filled with assayed, canine demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) in a thermoplastic gelatin matrix. Using a randomized block design, four sites were covered with PGA : TMC membranes of four different porosities, one site was covered with a collagen membrane and one site consisted of DFDB alone (control). At 3 months, the animals were euthanized and the mandibles were removed en bloc for laboratory processing. A total of 30 sites were reviewed microradiographically and underwent histomorphometric analysis for bone regeneration, soft tissue presence and remaining graft material. All sites exhibited uneventful healing. A significantly higher percentage of bone regeneration was seen in the sites protected by the PGA : TMC membrane. A higher component of soft tissue was visible beneath the collagen membrane as compared with the PGA : TMC membrane. The control sites exhibited noticeable deformation of the regenerated bone secondary to collapse of the overlying periosteum. The authors conclude that the PGA : TMC membrane protected the DFDB-filled defect and allowed a greater amount of bone regeneration than the defect protected by the collagen membrane or the control.