Oral Maxillofacial Surgery is a unique discipline that unites medicine and dentistry. It involves a wide range of diseases and procedures, from the simple, such as impacted wisdom teeth and wisdom tooth surgery, to the complex and complicated, such as jaw anomalies and corrective jaw surgery. Complex reconstructive work, such as in a fibular free transfer graft, also falls under the oral maxillofacial surgery arm and can be performed with the proper support and expertise.
Oral maxillofacial surgery, as the name implies, refers to disease and procedures of the oral cavity and the region immediately surrounding it. It can even spread to the eyes and down to the neck. Simple diseases that fall under the branch of oral maxillofacial surgery include dental caries that warrants tooth extraction and impacted wisdom tooth or an impacted or buried tooth that requires wisdom tooth surgery in the case of a wisdom tooth or only dentoalveolar surgery in the case of other teeth.
Soft tissue injuries, such as a lump on the lip, eg mucocele, and management are also under the care of oral maxillofacial surgery. Excision of the mucocele or any other soft lesion is done under local and sometimes general anesthesia. And very often, the tissue is sent to the pathology lab for routine histology to confirm the diagnosis. Biopsies are also done, either an incisional biopsy or an excisional biopsy.
Larger lesions and pathologies such as a dentigerous cyst, an odontogenic keratocyst or an ameloblastoma are also routinely managed under oral maxillofacial surgery. Management includes simple enucleation of the cyst up to resection of the pathology.
Facial trauma also falls within the management and care of oral maxillofacial surgery. Lacerations of the lips and face and fracture of the jaw and facial bones are common in hospital and are usually managed by the oral maxillofacial department. Grooming and suturing of lacerations can be performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the injury. And most of the time, if there is an associated fracture, open reduction and internal fixation of the jaw or facial bones are done along with the lacerations under general anesthesia.
Dental and oral maxillofacial implants are another area in which oral maxillofacial surgery is involved. The placement of dental implants to replace missing teeth in the jaw is gaining in popularity and is offered by oral maxillofacial surgery. In addition to dental implants, the oral maxillofacial surgery team also performs maxillofacial implants such as orbital implants and otic or ear implants. They also offer answers to complicated or difficult cases such as those with bone deficiencies.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are also included in the care and management of oral maxillofacial surgery. Jaw joint pain is a common problem and is usually attributed to stress or trauma. It may even be due to normal physiological wear. But whatever the cause, it can be a concern for the patient. However, most of the time, jaw joint pain or TMD pain is caused by myalgia which involves inflammation of the muscles of mastication.
Dental infection or facial infection leading to swelling is also commonly treated by oral maxillofacial surgery. Many times facial swelling is attributed to a dental cause and prompt identification of the cause and removal of the source along with antibiotic therapy is the appropriate treatment. Incision and drainage (I&D) is also commonly instituted.
Corrective jaw surgery and reconstructive jaw surgery are also commonly performed by the oral maxillofacial surgery team. In cases of mandibular anomalies that require corrective mandibular surgery, the oral maxillofacial surgery team will work in conjunction with the orthodontist to manage the patient. In reconstructive surgery, after major trauma or pathology removal surgery, the oral maxillofacial surgery team will decide on the graft to use and will place it properly and reconstruct the face.
Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are also commonly performed. Treatments like the administration of botox for the treatment of wrinkles and the use of fillers for the facial region are gaining popularity and more and more oral maxillofacial surgeons are venturing into this department due to the demand. Other treatments offered are rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty.
