ORAL SURGERY EXAM PREPARATION SUMMARY (ORE & LDS) WITH STUDY FOCUS
Exam Strategy:
- Focus on straightforward questions and foundational knowledge.
- Utilize “Oral surgery & maxillofacial surgery” chapter from Oxford clinical book and curriculum lectures.
- Review SDCEP guidelines for bisphosphonates and anticoagulants.
- Familiarize yourself with images of extraction instruments.
High-Yield Topics:
Oral antral fistula: Causes (e.g., extraction of maxillary molars), signs and symptoms (e.g., oro-antral communication, sinusitis), management .
Alveolar osteitis (dry socket): Risk factors, clinical presentation, prevention and treatment
Post-op bleeding types: Primary, reactionary, secondary; causes and management for each
Dento-facial infections: Classification (e.g., vestibular abscess, cellulitis, Ludwig’s angina), microbiology, spread pathways, management (e.g., antibiotics, incision and drainage)
Pericoronitis (management): Acute and chronic phases, treatment options (e.g., local debridement, operculectomy, extraction)
Warfarin: Mechanism of action, indications (e.g., atrial fibrillation), target INR values, drug interactions (e.g., antibiotics, NSAIDs), management of patients on warfarin undergoing surgery
Bisphosphonates: Mechanism of action, indications (e.g., osteoporosis), risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), dental management considerations
Mandibular & maxillary fractures: Classification (e.g., favorable vs. unfavorable, simple vs. compound), signs and symptoms, management principles (e.g., reduction, fixation)
Le Fort fractures: Types (I, II, III), clinical features, radiographic findings, treatment approaches
Anterior disc displacement: With reduction (clicking sound) vs. without reduction (limited opening, deviation); conservative and surgical management options
TMJ dysfunction and facial arthromyalgia: Diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation (e.g., pain, clicking, crepitus), treatment modalities (e.g., physiotherapy, occlusal splints)
Coronectomy: Indications (e.g., close proximity to inferior alveolar nerve), surgical technique, potential complications
Armamentarium for surgery: Forceps (e.g., universal, lower molar), elevators, surgical instruments (e.g., scalpel, periosteal elevator, suture needle)
Clinical implications for surgery: Medical history assessment (e.g., bleeding disorders, allergies), pre-operative investigations, informed consent, post-operative instructions
Odontogenic infections: Spread pathways, microbiology (e.g., Streptococcus viridans), clinical presentation (e.g., swelling, pain, trismus), management principles
Lymph nodes: Head and neck lymphatic drainage, role in infection spread, examination technique
Osteology: Anatomy of the maxilla and mandible, relevant landmarks for surgery (e.g., mental foramen, inferior alveolar nerve)
Exam Images:
Pay attention to the exam images section, as it contains important and previously asked visuals. Focus on recognizing radiographic findings of fractures, common oral lesions (e.g., periapical abscess, dentigerous cyst), and surgical instruments.
