Nutritional aspects of care.

Malnutrition in the oral and maxillofacial surgery surgical patient can have critical implications in the overall well-being and prognosis of the long-term, hospitalized, ill patient. The OMS should be capable of assessing the patient's nutritional status and nutritional requirements and developing appropriate recommendations for proper nutritional management. Knowledge of the various modalities of nutritional support should be readily available to the OMS practitioner.