The AAOMS Annual 2009 Meeting - Toronto, CA
- The AAOMS Annual Meeting was held in Toronto, CA this past October, 2009. The big news at this event? Growth factors!. Human recombinant bone morphogenic protein (hrBMP) and platelet derived growth factor (rhPDGF) look to be the focus of the most recent paradigm shift in reconstructive maxillofacial surgery. The major advantage of these factors is that they stimulate bone growth primarily, and therefore reduce if not eliminate the need for a donor site. These factors are the result of years of research and clinical trials and have now come into the forefront of clinical use. While the major drawback of their use continues to be cost, it does seem reasonable to assume costs will decrease over time making this treatment modality more acceptable.
- New advances in the understanding of Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) portend to offer greater hope to patients - primarily women -afflicted with this condition. It appears the paucity of hormones in the post-menopausal state also leads to a drop in neuro-active steroids resulting in neurodegenerative changes in small sensory nerve fibers of the oral mucosa. Eventually, the changes become irreversible resulting in the symptoms of BMS. The use of alpha-lipoic acid and clonazepam have shown great promise in providing relief for the symptoms of BMS.