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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an overhaul in the provision of dental services. This prompted the introduction of teledentistry clinics at King’s Dental Institute for patients who had been referred to the oral surgery department. This article presents findings from a retrospective analysis conducted to consider the effectiveness of such virtual clinics as well as discussing the benefits and challenges of teledentistry.

The naturally occurring Cannabis plant has played an established role in pain management throughout recorded history. However, in recent years, both natural and synthetic cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) have gained increasing worldwide attention due to growing evidence supporting their use in alleviating chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain associated with an array of conditions. In view of these products’ growing popularity in both the medical and commercial fields, we carried out a systematic review to ascertain the effects of cannabis and its synthetically derived products on orofacial pain and inflammation. The application of topical dermal cannabidiol formulation has shown positive findings such as reducing pain and improving muscle function in patients suffering from myofascial pain. Conversely, two orally administered synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (AZD1940 and GW842166) failed to demonstrate significant analgesic effects following surgical third molar removal. There is a paucity of literature pertaining to the effects of cannabis-based products in the orofacial region; however, there is a wealth of high-quality evidence supporting their use for treating chronic nociceptive and neuropathic pain conditions in other areas. Further research is warranted to explore and substantiate the therapeutic role of CBPMs in the context of orofacial pain and inflammation. As evidence supporting their use expands, healthcare professionals should pay close attention to outcomes and changes to legislation that may impact and potentially benefit their patients.

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a complication seen intermittently in patients who have had radiotherapy to the head and neck, and results of treatment with pentoxifylline and tocopherol (PVe) have been encouraging. As a consequence, some argue that this should be used prophylactically to lower the risk of ORN after dental extractions in this group. We retrospectively analysed data on 390 dental extractions in 82 patients who had had radiotherapy for cancer of the head and neck. Each had been given PVe prophylactically. Only one patient (1.2%) developed ORN (rate/tooth 0.26%). Patients had taken PVe for a mean (SD) of 11 (23) weeks preoperatively and 13.6 (18) weeks postoperatively. The incidence we found was lower than that normally associated with dental extractions in irradiated patients (7%).

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is an increasingly common condition primarily due to the rise of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Apart from MRONJ and ORN there remains a wide and varied range of rare causes and diseases that can lead to a clinical presentation of ONJ. This article aims to highlight alternatives causes of jaw necrosis following review of the literature to aid diagnosis and treatment planning for dental and head and neck specialities.

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a complication of radiotherapy, and is difficult to manage once established. However, its pathogenesis has been reinvestigated, and it is now thought to be potentially amenable to treatment with pentoxifylline and tocopherol (vitamin E). We made a retrospective analysis of 62 patients with established ORN who were treated in this way. When only pentoxifylline and vitamin E was used ORN resolved in 14/25 (56%) but paradoxically, when it was combined with antibiotics, only 6/22 resolved (27%). The next stage would ideally be to incorporate the treatment in a randomised clinical trial against both standard antibiotic treatment and hyperbaric oxygen.

The authors report a case of amyloidosis-induced macroglossia treated with surgical reduction of the tongue using a keyhole to inverted T method with particular emphasis on the postoperative sequelae. Significant tongue swelling persisted for longer than anticipated requiring tracheostomy to remain in situ for 14 days.