Oral Surgeons Connect to Provide Care to Trauma Patients
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital are designated Level 1 Trauma Centers, which means they provide specialty care for severe trauma cases. The oral surgeons at the College of Dentistry are often called to assist patients coming to both hospitals with emergency facial trauma, a responsibility they share with physicians in plastic surgery services and ear, nose and throat (ENT) providers.
“Injuries and infections have no timetable,” said Hany Emam, BDS, MS, associate professor and interim chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology. “You have to be there when you get called, no matter what time of the day it is.”
In addition to facial trauma, the college’s oral surgeons treat a variety of infections. Deep neck infections may have a dental origin, such as wisdom tooth infections. These can be serious and life-threatening, which requires immediate management.
The division also collaborates with the Division of Plastic Surgery and the Department of Otolaryngology at the Wexner Medical Center to provide care for patients who require ablative procedures or need complex and advanced reconstructive efforts.
Dr. Emam said oral surgeons are trained to manage complex craniofacial diseases in a hospital-based setting. This may include treating dentofacial deformities, jaw tumors, temporomandibular joint disorders, clefts and reconstruction of facial defects. “At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we collaborate with the Divisions of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, as well as Plastic Surgery, to manage children who need correction of complex dentofacial deformity,” he said.
Collaborating on Research
The college’s Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has a long history of research collaboration with many departments at the Wexner Medical Center. Recently, the college’s oral surgeons began working with David Dean, Ph.D., associate professor in the Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University to introduce a 3D printing core facility to the university. It will facilitate the production of custom-made models and prostheses to be used during surgeries for patients in need.
“The use of technology has expanded significantly in our field and provides considerable benefits in patient care,” Dr. Emam said. “I believe research is fundamental in our profession. It allows us to practice on a solid scientific basis that is evidence-based, and to provide the best care and service possible for patients in our community.”
“Injuries and infections have no timetable, you have to be there when you get called, no matter what time of the day it is.” - Hany Emam, BDS, MS