AAOMS News

April is National Facial Protection Month: Play it safe and protect your face 

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The popularity and competitiveness of organized youth sports can lead to numerous teeth and face injuries, with an average of 22,000 dental injuries occurring annually in children younger than 18 years, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. With proper facial protection, however, many of these injuries are entirely preventable. As… Read more »

JOMS study: Viewing social media increases anxiety before wisdom teeth surgery 

With social media use on the rise, many patients turn to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or X to learn about surgical procedures, including the removal of impacted wisdom teeth.   A new study published in the March issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS) – the official peer-reviewed journal of the American…

JOMS study: Youth baseball, softball linked to sport-related facial fractures 

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Children playing baseball and softball are more likely to sustain sports-related fractures around the eye compared to other sports, according to a new study.  Published in the March issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS) – the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) – the…

JOMS study: Recreational marijuana use may increase sedation requirements during oral and maxillofacial surgery

Research reveals recreational marijuana users undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery – such as tooth extractions or biopsies in an ambulatory surgical center – may require higher doses of anesthetic drugs during intravenous (IV) sedation. The study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS) – the official journal of the American Association of…

AAOMS develops guidance for diagnosing, managing TMJ disorders and pain 

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has developed evidence-based guidance for evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and intra-articular pain and dysfunction (IPD).  The position paper “The Contemporary Management of Temporomandibular Joint Intra-articular Pain and Dysfunction (IPD)” – written by members of the AAOMS Special… Read more »

April is National Facial Protection Month

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Five national healthcare organizations are teaming up in April to promote the use of protective gear – such as mouth guards and helmets – to prevent dental and facial injuries resulting from sports and recreational activities. Founded by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and with the support and… Read more »

April is National Facial Protection Month

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Every April, healthcare organizations unite to raise awareness of National Facial Protection Month – the campaign that encourages the use of safety equipment to prevent sports-related injuries to the head and face. Founded by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and with the support and collaboration of the Academy… Read more »

JOMS study: Penicillin allergy testing encouraged to reduce infection risk in oral surgery patients

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Unsubstantiated, patient-reported penicillin allergies are a risk factor for surgical site infections (SSIs) after oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), according to a new study. The study published in the January issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – the official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) –… Read more »

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Changing Lives

OMSs help complete milestone Jaw in a Day surgery for teen patient

A team of surgeons from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in partnership with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare recently completed a revolutionary “Jaw in a Day” surgery, the first of its kind in Tennessee and the Mid-South region. Conducted at Methodist University Hospital, the surgery involved removing an advanced tumor from the face of a teenage… Read more »

8-year-old’s jaw reconstructed after hit by stray bullet

WEST PALM BEACH — The call from the police officer gave Synthia Williams the shock of her lifetime. Her 8-year-old daughter had been shot in the face. Lilah Williams-Sjosten and her sister were celebrating their friend’s birthday with a weekend trip to SeaWorld on March 10. Before driving to Orlando, their friend’s mother parked her… Read more »

Oral Surgeon and Staff Use CPR and an AED to Save Accountant’s Life

In the normal course of his workday, Dr. Joseph Howard improves people’s lives, but he doesn’t typically have to employ life-saving measures. That changed on Feb. 2. An oral surgeon and owner of Central Connecticut Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, Howard and several members of his team leaped to the rescue when a member of… Read more »

OMS helps woman with dwarfism condition

EL PASO, Texas – Dr. Vernon Burke has been presented a National Humanitarianism Award by The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) for the care he has provided to children and others from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez with facial deformities. Burke works at High Desert Oral and Facial Surgery in El Paso… Read more »

OMS helps patient with severe dog bite on the nose

Anyone who has ever known the unconditional love of a pet knows every pet has its own personality and set of emotions. For example, dog owners can see happiness in their pets’ eyes – and tails! Some dogs give off clues that say, “Leave me alone right now,” while others may convey, “I’m sleepy, don’t… Read more »

OMS provides free procedure for cancer patient

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWNY) – When one Dexter woman was in desperate need of a surgery, she kept getting turned away by doctors. But one local oral surgeon not only took her in, he decided to do the procedure for free. It’s finally the day Dorothy Gagnon has been waiting for. She has head and neck… Read more »

AAOMS fellow works on world’s first face and hands transplant

It’s been more than two years since Joe Dimeo could smile. In July 2018, Dimeo, 20 at the time, fell asleep at the wheel of his car on Route 22 in New Jersey. He lost control, and the car hit the curb, flipping over before bursting into flames. A passerby pulled him out of the… Read more »

COVID-19 patient treated for macroglossia

HOUSTON — This story is something you have to see to believe. A man in Florida was critically ill with COVID-19. When he regained consciousness, his tongue was so swollen he couldn’t close his mouth. Editor’s note: We need to warn you – some people may find the images in this story disturbing. Anthony Jones… Read more »

OMS removes large facial tumor

HOUSTON, Texas — A man is thrilled to have found a surgeon in Houston to remove a large tumor from his jaw. It was a painful and emotionally difficult experience, until he met the right doctor. Chris Stovah’s wife first spotted his swollen jaw when they were living in their home country of Nigeria about five years… Read more »

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