Investigation and medical management of trigeminal neuralgia by consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the British Isles

Radiographic imaging in relation to the mandibular third molar: a survey among oral surgeons in Sweden

Objectives

To query the experience of oral surgeons concerning referral routines and preferences for radiographic imaging modality before surgical removal of mandibular third molars and investigate factors that influence imaging modality preferences.

Materials and methods

Members of the Swedish Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (n = 280) were invited to participate in a web-based digital survey concerning their experiences and use of three imaging modalities in pre-surgical assessment of mandibular third molar removal. The survey comprised multiple-choice questions and four cases depicted in images; respondents reported whether they would supplement the cases with other images and, if so, from which modality.

Results

The response rate was 64%. Panoramic radiographs were most commonly used in pre-surgical planning (response options: always or often), significant difference between professions (p = 0.039), and considered to facilitate treatment planning (87%), as was CBCT (82%); for 51%, CBCT reduced post-operative complications. Preferred modality for localizing the mandibular canal was fairly evenly distributed and for non-complex case, significant difference between subgroups of OMFS surgeons was found (p = 0.003) as to preference for intraoral radiographs.

Conclusions

A majority of respondents received a report within 2 weeks of their referral for CBCT and would read the report and view the images before surgery. Image modality preference differed depending on case complexity, with a greater perceived need for CBCT. Profession and practical experience affected choice.

Clinical relevance

Choice of imaging modality in mandibular third molar assessment is also important from dose delivery and social economy standpoints.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00784-021-04189-9.

Questionnaire surveys of dentists on radiology

OBJECTIVES

Survey by questionnaire is a widely used research method in dental radiology. A major concern in reviews of questionnaires is non-response. The objectives of this study were to review questionnaire studies in dental radiology with regard to potential survey errors and to develop recommendations to assist future researchers.

METHODS

A literature search with the software search package PubMed was used to obtain internet-based access to Medline through the website www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. A search of the English language peer-reviewed literature was conducted of all published studies, with no restriction on date. The search strategy found articles with dates from 1983 to 2010. The medical subject heading terms used were "questionnaire", "dental radiology" and "dental radiography". The reference sections of articles retrieved by this method were hand-searched in order to identify further relevant papers. Reviews, commentaries and relevant studies from the wider literature were also included.

RESULTS

53 questionnaire studies were identified in the dental literature that concerned dental radiography and included a report of response rate. These were all published between 1983 and 2010. In total, 87 articles are referred to in this review, including the 53 dental radiology studies. Other cited articles include reviews, commentaries and examples of studies outside dental radiology where they are germane to the arguments presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-response is only one of four broad areas of error to which questionnaire surveys are subject. This review considers coverage, sampling and measurement, as well as non-response. Recommendations are made to assist future research that uses questionnaire surveys.

Trigeminal neuralgia: assessment and management by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United Kingdom

We aimed to find out how oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United Kingdom currently assess and manage patients with suspected trigeminal neuralgia, and compared this with best practice. We undertook a postal survey of 297 consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the UK (of whom 178 (60%) replied) asking questions about examinations and routine investigations of new patients with symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, and their subsequent management. Clinical examination including cranial nerve function was made by almost all respondents (92%). Magnetic resonance imaging gives the most helpful diagnostic information and was requested by most surgeons (55%). Current publications have suggested that medical management of trigeminal neuralgia is appropriate for most patients, and this was reflected in current practice. Most surgeons (93%) used carbamazepine as their first choice of drug.