1Family Dentistry Department, Riyadh ELM University, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh King Abdulaziz University, College of Dentistry, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
2King Abdulaziz University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
3Consultant of oral maxillofacial surgery - King Abullah medical complex
4Department of Preventive Dental, Maxillofacial Science College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
5Khartoum University, Khartoum, Sudan
6General dentist -KSA
Main Objectives: To synthesize advances in oral and maxillofacial trauma (OMFT) management from 2015 to 2025, with emphasis on diagnostic innovations, surgical techniques, digital planning and 3D technologies, adjunctive care, and the practical utility of AI in conducting evidence syntheses.
Methodology: A PRISMA-guided systematic review of studies published between January 2015 and August 2025 across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Inclusion covered clinical research on OMFT diagnostics, treatment, and systems of care. AI-assisted screening (ASReview) was used to prioritize records for human review. Data was extracted on study design, interventions, and outcomes, and synthesized qualitatively due to heterogeneity.
Key Findings: Eighty-five studies met inclusion criteria, spanning over 20,000 patients. Imaging advances included wider adoption of CT and CBCT, selective MRI for soft-tissue assessment, and emerging AI tools that support rapid and accurate fracture detection. Surgical progress featured minimally invasive and endoscopic approaches, refined timing of fixation, and improved fixation systems, with evidence favoring ORIF in selected condylar fractures. Digital planning, 3D printing, and intraoperative navigation improved preoperative visualization, intraoperative efficiency, and anatomical accuracy, particularly in complex injuries. Adjunctive updates included shorter targeted antibiotic prophylaxis, telemedicine for triage and follow-up, and strengthened multidisciplinary pathways. Epidemiologic shifts during COVID-19 highlighted changing injury patterns that inform service planning.
Conclusion: OMFT care has become more precise and efficient through integrated imaging, digital workflows, and evidence-based surgical strategies. AI shows promise for both diagnostics and literature synthesis. Future work should prioritize multicenter prospective studies, standardized outcome measures including patient-reported outcomes, and equitable access to technology across resource settings.
Keywords: Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma; Facial Fractures; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Virtual Surgical Planning; 3D Printing
Salah Yousief., et al. “Recent Advances in the Management of Oral and Maxillofacial Trauma: An Update with an AI-Systematic Review”. EC Dental Science 25.1 (2026): 01-28.
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