Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, What is?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized branch of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, face, and neck. This field combines dental expertise with surgical training to address a wide range of issues, including:

1. Dental extractions: Oral surgeons perform complex extractions, including impacted wisdom teeth or teeth that are too damaged or infected to be saved.

2. Dental implant placement: They are skilled in placing dental implants, which are artificial tooth roots used to support crowns, bridges, or dentures.

3. Jaw surgery: Oral surgeons can correct misaligned jaws (orthognathic surgery) to improve the bite and facial appearance. This may involve repositioning the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both.

4. TMJ disorders: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint. Oral surgeons can diagnose and treat these conditions, often using minimally invasive techniques.

5. Facial trauma: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to manage facial injuries resulting from accidents, fractures, or other trauma. They can repair fractured jaws, facial bones, and soft tissue injuries.

6. Cleft lip and palate surgery: These surgeons play a crucial role in the multidisciplinary team that treats patients with cleft lip and palate, providing surgical correction for these congenital conditions.

7. Oral pathology: They diagnose and treat various diseases of the mouth, including tumors, cysts, and infections. Biopsies may be performed to determine the nature of the disease and guide appropriate treatment.

8. Sleep apnea: Oral surgeons can offer surgical options for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the airway collapses during sleep, leading to interrupted breathing.

9. Reconstructive surgery: They perform reconstructive procedures to restore facial structure and function after trauma, cancer removal, or congenital abnormalities.

To become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, one must first complete dental school and earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. This is followed by several years of additional surgical training in a hospital-based residency program.