Publications by authors named "Larry Cunningham"

The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) has been serving the specialty since 1946. The ABOMS frequently reviews its strategic plan, mission, and vision. The board administers 4 examinations (the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery In-service Training Examination, the Qualifying Examination, the Oral Certifying Examination, and Certificates of Added Qualifications in Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery and Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery) and also oversees the Certification Maintenance process for diplomates.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze patterns and trends of maxillofacial injuries in bare-knuckle fighting. Results comparisons with other combat sports are provided in the Discussion section.

Materials And Methods: The study design is a retrospective cohort study.

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A dentoalveolar fracture requires thorough clinical and radiographic examination for an accurate diagnosis to guide appropriate treatment. Dentoalveolar fractures can be classified into the following 4 groups: (1) crown/root fractures, (2) luxation/displacement of teeth, (3) avulsion, and (4) alveolar fractures. Treatment can be divided into nonrigid fixation (splinting with wires and composite) and/or rigid fixation (Erich arch bars, Risdon cable wires) depending on the extent of dentoalveolar fractures.

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Article Synopsis
  • Surgical techniques for the head and maxillofacial region have evolved greatly, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, due to improvements in anesthesia and antibiotics.
  • Numerous surgical methods exist today, each with unique pros and cons, but there's a lack of historical context explaining their development in the literature.
  • This article is the second in a series that aims to provide a historical overview of modern surgical approaches to the midface, highlighting their advantages, disadvantages, and modifications.
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Surgical approaches to the head and maxillofacial area have been described and modified by many authors throughout history. It was, however, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries due in large part to improvements in the delivery of anesthesia and antibiotic therapy when most of the techniques were described. Currently, a myriad of surgical techniques are employed to access the maxillofacial complex with advantages and disadvantages for each one.

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Third molar surgery is the most common ambulatory procedure done by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Surgical approaches for the removal of third molars have been published since the 20th century. This article reviews the history and development of extraction techniques through a literature review.

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Article Synopsis
  • Surgical techniques for the head and maxillofacial area have evolved significantly, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries due to advancements in anesthesia and antibiotics.
  • Various surgical methods today offer distinct pros and cons, but there's often a lack of context regarding their historical development.
  • This article is part of a series that focuses on the historical overview and detailed examination of modern surgical approaches, specifically targeting the lower face in this third installment.
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Orbital floor blowout fractures can result in a variety of signs and symptoms depending on the severity of the bone defect. Large defects often result in enophthalmos and restriction of ocular movement; yet the timing of surgery can be delayed up to two weeks with good functional outcomes. In contrast, an orbital trapdoor defect with entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle usually elicits pain with marked restriction of the upward gaze and activation of the oculocardiac reflex without significant dystopia or enophthalmos.

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  • Prior research showed that polymerized simvastatin can release the drug slowly and degrade, which sets the stage for this study that focuses on its effects on bone growth in rats.
  • In vivo tests using different simvastatin-containing polymers highlighted that poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(simvastatin) resulted in significant new bone growth after four weeks, unlike traditional PLGA which caused bone loss.
  • The study suggests that the new polymerized form of simvastatin, due to its slow degradation and controlled inflammation response, holds promise for improving bone regeneration therapies.
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The management of atrophic mandibular fractures has been a challenge for maxillofacial surgeons for decades. During the past 70 years, various techniques for treating edentulous mandibular fractures have been advocated. These techniques have been praised, criticized, abandoned, improved, and used in combination with other methods.

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Large infected bone defects, often resulting from high energy traumas, are difficult to treat due to their variability in complexity and location. Standard treatment for infected bone defects begins with a protocol that includes a series of debridements in conjunction with an extended course of systemic antibiotics. Only after the infection has been eliminated will repair of the defect commence, typically with implantation of autologous bone.

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Purpose: The management of atrophic mandibular fractures poses a challenge because of anatomic variations and medical comorbidities associated with elderly patients. The purpose of this article is to review and update the literature regarding the management of atrophic mandible fractures using load-bearing reconstruction plates placed without bone grafts.

Materials And Methods: We performed a review of the English-language literature looking for atrophic mandibular fractures with or without continuity defects and reconstruction without bone grafts.

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of diameter and orthodontic loading of a screw-type implantable device on bone remodeling.

Materials And Methods: Screw-shaped devices of four distinct diameters, 1.6, 2, 3, and 3.

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The term "lean production," also known as "Lean," describes a process of operations management pioneered at the Toyota Motor Company that contributed significantly to the success of the company. Although developed by Toyota, the Lean process has been implemented at many other organizations, including those in health care, and should be considered by dental schools in evaluating their clinical operations. Lean combines engineering principles with operations management and improvement tools to optimize business and operating processes.

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Evidence has shown activation of T and B cells in gingival tissues in experimental models and in humans diagnosed with periodontitis. The results of this adaptive immune response are noted both locally and systemically with antigenic specificity for an array of oral bacteria, including periodontopathic species, e.g.

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Objetives: The risk of removal of third molars (M3) during a sagittal split osteotomy (SSO) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with removal of mandibular M3 during versus before SSO.

Study Design: A chart and radiographic review was completed in all patients who underwent an SSO from April 2010 until September 2014.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study highlights the various factors that contribute to delays in the repair of maxillofacial injuries, which can lead to greater health complications.
  • It investigates the timing of surgical interventions and identifies barriers such as medical and logistical issues that affect patient care.
  • The results show that out of 780 patients, an average delay of 6.5 days for surgery was observed, with significant influences from injury severity and concurrent medical issues.
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Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a porous silica-calcium phosphate composite (SCPC50) loaded with and without recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on alveolar ridge augmentation in saddle-type defects.

Materials And Methods: Micro-granules of SCPC50 resorbable bioactive ceramic were coated with rhBMP-2 10 mg and then implanted into a saddle-type defect (12 × 7 mm) in a dog mandible and covered with a collagen membrane. Control groups included defects grafted with SCPC50 granules without rhBMP-2 and un-grafted defects.

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This study was designed to evaluate the variations in decision making among Brazilian oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS) and trainees in relation to third molar surgery. A survey on 18 diverse clinical situations related to the assessment and treatment of the third molar surgeries was conducted during the 20th Brazilian National OMFS meeting. Participants were divided into three groups according to their level of training.

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Current treatments for traumatic oral mucosal wounds include the gold standard of autologous tissue and alternative tissue-engineered grafts. While use of autografts has disadvantages of minimal availability of oral keratinized tissue, second surgery, and donor site discomfort, tissue-engineered grafts are limited by their unavailability as off-the-shelf products owing to their fabrication time of 4-8 weeks. Hence, the current work aimed to develop a potentially cost-effective, readily available device capable of enhancing native mucosal regeneration.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how well mucoadhesive films can deliver the immune response modifier imiquimod to the oral mucosa without entering the bloodstream.
  • The results showed that while the films effectively localized the drug in the buccal tissue, the cream formulation led to unwanted systemic distribution.
  • The films had a residence time of up to 4 hours on oral tissue in humans, suggesting their potential for clinical use in treating oral precancerous lesions.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the frequency of bracket failure using two different techniques for establishing interim fixation during orthognathic surgery.

Methods And Material: The first group (standard technique) had a maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) established during surgery by ligating splints to orthodontic appliances. The second group of patients had an interim fixation established using maxillomandibular screws (alternative technique).

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