Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty focusing on reconstructive surgery of the face, the oral cavity, head and neck, mouth and jaws. Oral and Maxillofacial surgery may be advised for a number of reasons. For instance, Maxillofacial surgery might correct an injury or realign a bite that has been out of alignment owing to abnormal jaw development.

Who needs Oral and Maxillofacial surgery?

People who deal with problems like cleft palate, TMJ disorders, open bite concerns, and chewing difficulties must go for an oral and maxillofacial surgery.

When to see a specialist?

If you are facing a condition including the teeth, jaws, or bones and tissues of the face that causes you pain and stops you from carrying out normal activities, you may need to consult a specialist.

Procedures

• Wisdom Teeth Management and Extraction
• Many people’s wisdom teeth do not erupt properly. The third molar can cause overcrowding, erupt in the wrong position, or become impacted. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon often performs surgery to remove wisdom teeth that pose a risk to your oral health.
• Dental Implant Surgery
• A dental implant can fill the gaps in your smile from missing teeth. During dental implant surgery, surgeon replaces the tooth’s root area with a metal screw-like post. This provides a strong base for the artificial tooth known as a crown which will look, feel, and act as a natural tooth.
• Facial Injury and Trauma Surgery
• Surgeons also treat and repairs facial injuries and trauma with their extensive knowledge of how the jaw comes together. This could include fractures in the jaw as well as the orbits surrounding the eyes.
• Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Treatment
• An OMS can also diagnose and surgically treat cancer of the head, neck, and mouth. Surgical treatment for oral cancer often involves removing the cancerous tissue and then reconstructing the surgical site to improve appearance and function.
• Corrective Jaw Surgery
• Corrective jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, can address various functional problems by correcting the teeth and jaw’s misalignment. Reasons for receiving corrective jaw surgery include problems chewing, speaking, or breathing. Addressing sleep apnea or improving your bite’s appearance and function through orthodontia are other reasons to receive jaw surgery.
• Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
• An OMS can also perform cleft lip and cleft palate surgery on infants and young children. This surgery restores the jaw and facial structures to lead to normal function and appearance. The OMS plays an important role in the team of healthcare specialists for cleft lip and palate patients.

Recovery

After surgery, you’ll likely experience some discomfort, sensitivity, swelling and bleeding for at least a few days. Your healthcare provider may recommend pain medications to keep you comfortable.

Risks

There are several risks include:

• Infection.
• Injury to adjacent teeth.
• Dry socket (a condition that can occur following extractions, when the blood clotting process is disturbed).
• Numbness.
• Tooth root fragments.
• Sinus problems.

Benefits of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery

There are several benefits involved.

• Easing pain from a temporomandibular joint disorder.
• Repairing facial injuries or congenital conditions like a cleft palate.
• Preventing additional wear on your teeth.
• Making biting, chewing, and swallowing easier.
• Addressing breathing issues like mouth breathing and obstructive airway disease.

Frequently Asked Questions.

1. What is Oral and Maxillofacial surgery?

Oral and Maxillofacial surgery is an operation performed by a highly trained dental surgeon. A variety of maxillofacial procedures can treat diseases, fix injuries or correct defects in your face, jaw or mouth.

2. How is oral and maxillofacial surgery performed?

Depending on the issue and method, oral and maxillofacial surgery varies substantially. The procedure can start when you’ve been prepared and given the proper anesthetic. Surgery is often done within the mouth, so there won’t be any facial scars on the chin, jaw, or mouth area. However, there are situations when minor incisions outside of your mouth may be necessary.

3. Is oral and maxillofacial surgery painful?

Oral and Maxillofacial surgery on the jaw is often painless. As you will be sedated during the surgery, you won’t truly feel any pain, and by the time your face starts to feel again.

4. How long does oral and maxillofacial surgery take?

It normally takes 45 minutes while under general anesthesia. As the drug wears off, you can have some discomfort or pain. You could also be given oral antibiotics to help prevent infection after surgery.

5. What are the risks of oral and maxillofacial surgery?

While oral and maxillofacial surgery is safe, several risks include infection, Tooth root fragments, sinus problems, numbness etc. Your surgeon will discuss the risks before the treatment.