Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Section Scope Statements

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Section aims to publish an extensive range of original articles that advances patient care through enhanced understanding of diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, and injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions. The section also seeks research regarding both the basic science of and management of persons with oral and maxillofacial conditions. Articles presenting ethical, original, well-documented, and reproducible research are given preference.

The Oral Medicine Section aims to publish a broad range of original articles that help clinicians understand more thoroughly the pathobiology, etiology, diagnosis, prevention, and management of oral conditions related to underlying medical conditions, including diseases of the head, neck, and oral mucosal structures, orofacial pain conditions, salivary gland disorders, and taste disorders. The section also seeks research regarding the dental management of persons with medical problems and/or complicated medical conditions. The published findings must contribute substantively to the body of oral medicine literature and should lead to improved clinical decision-making and enhanced care of medically-related disorders or conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. Articles presenting original, well-documented, and reproducible research are preferred.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Section encourages the submission of original articles of high scientific quality that investigate the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. Submitted manuscripts may summarize findings from clinical, translational, or basic research in the broad field of oral and maxillofacial pathology but must contribute substantively to the body of knowledge in this field and should be of obvious clinical and/or diagnostic significance to the practicing oral and maxillofacial pathologist. Areas of focus may include the investigation of disease pathogenesis, the diagnosis of disease using microscopic, clinical, radiographic, biochemical, molecular, or other methods as well as the natural history and management of patients with various conditions of the head, neck, and oral mucosal structures. Diagnostic accuracy studies should conform to the principles of the STARD document http://www.stard-statement.org. Articles presenting novel and reproducible research that introduce new knowledge and observations are especially encouraged. This section also welcomes the submission of topical review papers on relevant subjects.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Section publishes original contributions to the advancement of oral and maxillofacial radiology and related imaging sciences. The section considers original clinical and experimental research papers, reports of technological developments, extensive systematic reviews of the literature, and invited papers on subjects that will appeal to researchers and clinicians involved in diagnostic imaging of hard and soft tissues of the head and neck. Topics of interest include the efficacy of imaging systems using ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in the diagnosis of head and neck disease; molecular imaging; artificial intelligence and computer-assisted diagnosis; craniofacial analysis; image-guided surgical navigation; image processing; radiation physics and dosimetry; and radiation biology, safety, and protection. The section also seeks extensive case series representing various expressions of particular conditions, descriptions of innovative imaging technique applications to these series, and description of novel imaging features. Published manuscripts should assist clinicians in developing evidence-based practice and provide improved clinical decision-making regarding the performance of specific techniques and interpretation of resulting images. Diagnostic accuracy studies should conform to the principles of the STARD document http://www.stard-statement.org).