Barking Up the Wrong Tree Dodson, Thomas B
Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery,
March 2020, 2020-Mar, 2020-03-00, 20200301, Volume:
78, Issue:
3
Journal Article
The Problem With P-Hacking Dodson, Thomas B.
Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery,
March 2019, 2019-03-00, 20190301, Volume:
77, Issue:
3
Journal Article
The purpose of this report was to summarize the frequencies of third molars (M3s) in general and asymptomatic, disease-free M3s specifically. Estimates of M3 prevalence range so widely (ie, 6.0% to ...96%) as to be of little use. The estimates vary depending on definitions, age, clinical versus radiographic assessment, and patient versus population samples. For patient management, it may be more valuable to estimate the prevalence of M3s grouped by clinical rather than anatomic status. Many times, however, M3s are categorized simply as asymptomatic. In many pathologic processes, from cancer to cardiovascular disease, the term asymptomatic does not equal an absence of disease. As such, M3s should be categorized based on symptom and disease status. Subjects with all M3s asymptomatic and absent of disease ranged from 12% in a sample of patients referred for M3 evaluation to 29% in a nonpatient volunteer sample. In the patient sample, 37% of the M3s evaluated were asymptomatic and free of disease.
A New Word for Our Times Dodson, Thomas B.
Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery,
December 2019, 2019-12-00, 20191201, Volume:
77, Issue:
12
Journal Article
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the role of preoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) for patients at increased risk for nerve injury during ...mandibular third molar (M3) extraction. Materials and Methods To address the research purpose, the investigators enrolled a sample composed of subjects who presented for mandibular M3 extraction and had panoramic radiographic signs interpreted as being associated with an increased risk for inferior alveolar nerve injury. All subjects had preoperative CT imaging studies done to ascertain the position of the IAN with respect to M3. The predictor variable was the preoperative assessment of risk for IAN injury based on panoramic imaging. The outcome variable was the preoperative assessment of IAN injury risk after reviewing the CT studies. We documented the number of IAN injuries. Descriptive statistics were computed as indicated. Results The sample consisted of 23 patients who had bilaterally impacted wisdom teeth. The sample’s mean age was 26 ± 6 years (range: 18-48 years); 69.6% of the patients were female. After reviewing the panoramic radiographic, 80.4% of M3s were classified as having an increased risk for IAN injury. Upon examining the CT imaging, 32.6% were classified as high risk for IAN injury. After reviewing all imaging studies, 71.7% of the teeth in the sample were extracted. Intraoperative IAN visualization occurred in 21.2% of the cases. At 1 week postoperative, 3 patients had dysesthesia (9.1%); none had a permanent nerve injury. Conclusion In this small series of patients, the additional information provided by 3-dimensional imaging changed the majority of patients from increased risk for nerve injury to low risk for nerve injury.
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