Improving the Management of Surgical Sites and Mucosal Lesions
Course Type: Live On-line Virtual Course
Instructor: Scott D. Benjamin, DDS
Credit Hours: 1 Credit Hour
Date & Times: To Be Announced
Management of surgical sites and soft tissue lesions is an important part of patient care in almost every discipline of medicine. Appropriately dressing a surgical site is considered a basic principle of proper surgical procedure, allowing for better healing, greater patient comfort, and fewer complications. It is estimated that more than 70 million oral surgeries are being performed every year. Dental surgeries, extractions, and periodontal procedures involve both soft and osseous structures; thus, both need healing. The lack of adequate intraoral treatment modalities of these sites and areas has long been accepted as a normal aspect of dentistry, such that many practitioners are not even conscious of it being an issue.
Today, dental patients expect the same optimal wound care from oral health care providers that they receive from their physicians and surgeons. Although tremendous progress has been made in the care of external surgical sites and lesions, the care of intraoral sites has been lacking, primarily because the oral environment poses significant challenges. It is constantly functioning through speaking, eating, drinking liquids, and tongue activity. Also, toxicity is a consideration when introducing any wound care material into the mouth because of ingestion.
Most current oral treatment modalities have inadequacies controlling the biofilm and pain management, including opioid drugs, does not always provide adequate pain relief, particularly after oral surgical procedures, and this has contributed to the current opioid epidemic. This presentation will discuss modern treatments and dressings that are available today to assist in addressing these significant challenges leading to improved outcomes with enhanced healing and reduction of post operative discomfort.
At the end of this presentation attendees will understand:
- The challenges of properly managing surgical sites and mucosal lesions.
- Some of the treatment modalities available today to assist in achieving enhanced outcomes and reducing post operative complications.
- Options on how to reduce the need for post operative pain medications.