Maxillofacial surgery, also referred to as oral and maxillofacial surgery, cares for patients with wisdom teeth problems, dental implant needs, facial pain and misaligned jaws. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also perform cosmetic surgery for people with facial injuries, oral cancers and tumors. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work with other specialists such as dentists, orthodontists, oncologists, neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons to provide the most effective treatment for patients, according to the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Significance
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons may operate similarly to dentists, but their special training, which includes four to six years of surgical residencies, allows them to perform reconstructive surgery to the face and to handle cosmetic procedures because of injury or trauma. Patients are referred to maxillofacial surgeons through other professionals. Maxillofacial surgery is usually performed in the doctor's office, much like a dentist's practice, only with specialized surgical procedures.
Function
Dental procedures by maxillofacial surgeons may include diagnosing and treating impacted teeth or extractions. Dental implants are important in maxillofacial surgery. The implants are used to replace a tooth or several teeth and are considered a better and more comfortable alternative to dentures.
Expert Insight
Maxillofacial surgeons also help with pathology by performing biopsies and diagnostic procedures to find underlying problems in the face or jaw region and devise treatment plans, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Maxillofacial surgery plays a role in the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The disorder often includes loud and frequent snoring and can cause breathing to stop for brief periods of time. Sleep apnea can lead to fatigue because of sleep loss as well as to more serious problems, including hypertension, arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.
Potential
Maxillofacial surgeons often perform reconstructive surgeries to deal with injury or trauma to the upper and lower jaws. The surgeons also work to correct oral and facial deformities such as cleft lip and palate, the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery explains.
Prevention/Solution
The surgeons are called on to treat facial pain and problems, including temporomandibular joint disease or TMJ. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also handle diagnosis and treatment of oral cancers. Accident victims and patients with tumors or cysts benefit from maxillofacial surgery. The surgeons may also be involved in rhinoplasty, which reconstructs the nose, and other plastic surgeries, bone augmentation, bone grafting, facial bone fracture surgeries and treatment of soft tissue injuries.
