Removal of Impacted Supernumerary Teeth Using a Dynamic Surgical Navigation System: A Case Report.

Removal of impacted supernumerary teeth can present a unique set of challenges to the dentoalveolar surgeon. Complications associated with these challenges have been well documented in the literature. The use of dynamically guided surgical navigation technology for the removal of impacted supernumerary teeth has the potential to mitigate these challenges and improve clinical outcomes. Although not a currently Food and Drug Administration-approved indication, the use of dynamic surgical navigation systems for the removal of impacted supernumerary teeth will be elucidated in this case report.

The early effect of COVID-19 on dental infections by neuroimaging in the emergency department setting.

OBJECTIVES: In early 2020, at COVID-19's onset in the United States, the American Dental Association recommended postponing elective dental procedures to minimize viral spread. Subsequently, concerns arose that this could result in increased dental infections and resultant emergency department visits. This study quantifies the number and severity of dental infections at the onset of the early COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 in the Northeast United States resulting in emergency room visits and radiographic imaging compared to 2017-2019 with an analysis of geographic population characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional head and neck imaging performed at an East Coast hospital system was retrospectively reviewed for dental infections from March 2020 through December 2020, and compared to prior years 2017-2019. Inclusion criteria included radiology reporting of a dental infection, ranging in severity. Electronic medical records (EMR) and imaging reports were queried for patient characteristics and dental findings. RESULTS: There were 735 confirmed imaging reports of odontogenic infections. There was a significant increase in imaging reporting of odontogenic infections in the post-shutdown period. These were more frequently early-type infections, involved a higher proportion of male and non-white patients, and the patients were more often from disadvantaged zip codes when compared with prior years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the varying impact of outpatient dental office closures on different socioeconomic groups in the setting of a pandemic. Potential implications include increased morbidity and mortality for patients, as well as increased cost and resource allocations for the healthcare system.