Post-graduation career pathways: a nationwide survey among dental students in Germany.

OBJECTIVES: Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has to compete with other specialties for the best candidates. With the upcoming change of generations (Z and Alpha) and the movement toward gender parity of dentistry, understanding changing preferences and misconceptions is essential. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted by the German-Association-of-Oral-and-Maxillofacial-Surgery (DGMKG) across German dental schools. The survey collected demographic data, academic background, and career aspirations, with a focus on OMFS. The dental student survey results were compared to a survey given to OMFS Specialists. RESULTS: 637 dental students, mainly female (70%), from 30 German universities participated. 27% had defined career aspirations post-graduation, with self-employment and academia being popular choices. 67% were unsure. Specializations leaned towards restorative dentistry (41%), orthodontics (36%), and prosthodontics (31%). While 73% showed interest in surgical practices, 20% were attracted in specializing in OMFS. Of those averse to OMFS, 78% cited long training duration as the deterrent, 12% were put off by perceived unattractive working hours. Other reasons included negative undergraduate experiences, scarcity of part-time positions, and perceived inadequate earnings. CONCLUSION: Accurate data is crucial for career decisions. OMFS societies must proactively share accurate information and guide students. OMFS offers family-friendly hours, and while its training might be longer than dental specialties, it is on par with other surgical professions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dental students consistently regard OMFS as commendable career path. To guarantee sustained OMFS expertise, it is imperative to nurture this interest through dedicated academic mentorship and innovative education, thereby solidifying their professional direction.

Trismus Due to Hyperplastic Coronoid Process: Series of Five Cases and Review of Literature.

ABSTRACT: Hyperplasia of the coronoid process is a rare condition, potentially leading to a mechanical mouth opening restriction. Diagnostic workup and treatment will be discussed based on 5 cases. This article presents 5 cases of true coronoid process hyperplasia. In addition, we reviewed accessible literature on the topic with special attention to pathophysiologic theories, surgical approach, and postoperative physiotherapy. The improvement in the maximal intercuspidal opening ranged from 4 and 31 mm. Greater maximal intercuspidal opening improvement was connected to compliant patients, while poor outcome occurred in the case of a patient that neither followed the recommendations for physical therapy nor showed up for his follow up appointments. The success of the therapy is defined by a long-lasting and stable improvement of the mouth opening compared to the preoperative situation. In the presented cases, the outcome was strongly dependent on the patients' postoperative compliance. Based on the cases described, we conclude that a good outcome is accomplishable for patients using the methods presented, as long as patients cooperate well after surgery.Diagnostic workup in patients with trismus should be thorough to correctly diagnose rare entities such as coronoid hyperplasia. If treated correctly this condition has a good outcome, as long as the compliance of the patient is adequate.

The role of immediate versus secondary removal of the odontogenic focus in treatment of deep head and neck space infections. A retrospective analysis of 248 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study was to investigate conditions and predisposing factors for head and neck infection progress regarding the length of stay (LOS) in hospital, with special emphasis on the time of removal of the odontogenic infection focus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 3-year retrospective study reviewed hospital records of 248 subjects who were treated under inpatient conditions with severe odontogenic infections who received surgical incisions, drainage, and intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Outcomes measured included age, gender, involved fascial spaces, LOS, number of infected spaces, antibiotics administered, and comorbidities. We precisely recorded the time between abscess incision and focus extraction. RESULTS: Removal of infection focus (tooth) in the same stay (1 stay, n = 106; group 1; mean 6.5 days ± 3) showed significantly higher (p = 0.042) LOS than extraction in a second stay (2 stays, n = 46; group 2; 5.3 ± 3.1). Group 3 patients showed infection after removal of teeth in outpatient management (1 stay ex-op, n = 96) and presented significantly lower LOS (5.6 ± 2.5) compared to group 1 (p = 0.0216). LOS of group 3 to group 2 patients showed no significance (p = 0.668). Infection expansion and diabetes showed a significant increase of LOS. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous removal of infection focus and abscess incision leads to the lowest LOS. If tooth extraction is performed after incision, subsequent focus extraction performed in a second stay shows lower overall-LOS than extraction at the same stay at later stage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Multiple factors tend to increase the LOS of patients with severe head and neck infections of odontogenic origin. Our data reveals the role of removal of odontogenic focus and additionally ranks further parameters that influence the LOS. Based on our findings, decisions regarding the surgical treatment can be recommended.

Vitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency may increase the prevalence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

INTRODUCTION: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a severe complication of antiresorptive medication (AM) in the treatment of bone-affecting cancer-related conditions and osteoporosis. Aim of this study was to reveal whether patients treated with AM and show Medication Related OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) are vitamin D deficient or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2 year retrospective study evaluated hospital records of 63 patients who received AM. Patients were divided into two groups. One group (n = 45) consisted of patients who presented a stage 2 ONJ (eb+ = exposed bone). Second group patients (n = 18) (eb- = no exposed bone) presented for extraction of teeth. Serum levels of vitamin D (25-OHD) were analysed. P values ≤ 0.05 in t-test were regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: Serum levels of 25-OHD were significantly higher in the eb(-) group (29.5 ng/ml), than in the eb(+) group (20.49 ng/ml). Blood levels of calcium were also significantly higher in eb(-) group (2.25 mmol/L; 0.11 SD) than in eb(+) group (2.175 mmol/L; 0.16 SD). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MRONJ in AM treated patients seems to be increased by low serum 25-OHD. A measurable tendency in the role of 25-OHD for the development of MRONJ was recorded and leads to the recommendation for a sufficient vitamin D substitution in patients treated with AM.