Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery focuses on diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and both hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. Recognized internationally and as one of the nine specialties by the American Dental Association, it encompasses a broad scope of practice.
The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery includes a variety of conditions and treatments:
- Corrective Jaw Surgery: Addresses skeletal and dental irregularities, including misaligned jaws and teeth, improving functions such as chewing, speaking, and breathing.
- Wisdom Teeth Management: Involves the removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent decay, infection, and gum disease.
- Cleft Palate Repair: Surgical correction of cleft lip and palate, which involves collaborative care over several years to address feeding, speech, and hearing issues.
- Facial Trauma: Treatment of facial injuries, including fractures of the jaw and facial bones.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Surgery: Treatment for TMJ disorders, which can cause pain, earaches, headaches, and functional limitations.
- Oral Cancer Detection and Treatment: Regular self-exams and biopsies of suspicious tissues to diagnose and treat oral cancers.
- Dental Implants: Surgical placement of titanium implants in the jawbone as long-term tooth replacements.
- Outpatient Anesthesia: Providing safe and effective anesthesia in an outpatient setting, including local, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia.
