What Is Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery? Which Treatments Does It Include?
Oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery covers the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases affecting the soft tissues inside the mouth—such as the tongue, lips, cheeks, and salivary glands—as well as the teeth, jawbones, and temporomandibular joints. This specialty plays a crucial role in resolving both functional and aesthetic issues.
Orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery), which is performed to correct jaw discrepancies that cannot be treated with orthodontics alone, is among the most common procedures in this field. Surgeries may be performed under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia.
What Kind of Specialty Is Maxillofacial Surgery?
Also known as oral and maxillofacial surgery, this specialty involves surgical interventions on the bones, teeth, and soft tissues of the face and jaw. Maxillofacial surgeons offer permanent solutions for aesthetic, functional, and orthopedic problems.
Procedures are often performed under general anesthesia in hospital operating rooms, especially for disabled patients, those with communication difficulties, or individuals with dental phobia.
Which Problems Does Maxillofacial Surgery Address?
- Correction of congenital deformities such as cleft lip and palate
- Prevention of tooth loss by stopping excessive wear
- Resolving biting, chewing, and speech problems
- Treatment of breathing issues such as mouth breathing and sleep apnea
What Services Does Oral, Dental, and Maxillofacial Surgery Provide?
This specialty includes diagnosis, treatment, and surgical procedures targeting all soft and hard tissues inside the mouth. Treatment plans are personalized for each patient.
- Extraction of impacted or wisdom teeth
- Surgical tooth extractions
- Dental implant applications and bone grafting procedures
- Surgical preparations before prosthetics
- Treatment of oral cysts, tumors, and infections
- Surgical treatment of jaw fractures and trauma
- Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Aesthetic and functional jaw correction surgeries
What Are Common Maxillofacial Surgery Procedures?
Maxillofacial surgery improves both aesthetics and function. Frequently performed treatments include:
- Dental and maxillofacial implant placements
- Sinus lifting (sinus augmentation) surgeries
- Orthognathic surgeries (Genioplasty, Maxillary and Mandibular Osteotomy)
- Temporomandibular joint surgeries (Arthrocentesis, Arthroscopy)
- Cyst and tumor resections, reconstructive surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is oral, dental, and maxillofacial surgery?
It is a specialty that involves diagnosing and surgically treating diseases affecting the soft tissues inside the mouth, teeth, jawbones, and joints.
When is maxillofacial surgery performed?
It is performed for jaw discrepancies, impacted teeth, cysts, tumors, trauma, implant surgery, orthognathic surgery, and oral infections.
Who is a maxillofacial surgeon?
A dentist trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery who performs surgical procedures on the jaw and facial region.
