What is maxillofacial surgery?
A unique branch of dentistry is known as maxillofacial surgery. It entails surgical procedures to treat conditions, wounds, and flaws in your face, jaw, or mouth. Maxillofacial surgeons are highly skilled professionals who identify and address issues with:
- Your jaw’s bones and the tissues in your lower face (maxillofacial area).
- Your mouth’s roof (palate).
The purpose of maxillofacial surgery
Surgery in the maxillofacial region is done to:
- Boost jaw movement.
- Alleviate pain.
Dental issues and conditions can be treated by maxillofacial surgery in a wide range of situations, including:
- Getting ready for dental implants and prosthetics in the mouth (such as dentures).
- Dental implants are inserted.
- Removing determining the causes of persistent dental pain.
- Impacted teeth from the mouth.
- Treat oral conditions.
Procedures can also treat jaw problems, such as:
- You can replace the missing bone in your jaw by performing a bone graft, or transferring bone from another part of your body.
- Rebuilding your jaw to fix a misaligned bite.
- Treating conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your lower jaw to your skull.
- treating wounds caused by mouth, jaw, and face trauma.
Before maxillofacial surgery, what happens?
In the event that you require maxillofacial surgery, your primary care physician or dentist will send you to a specialist.
You will have a consultation with the maxillofacial surgeon to discuss:
- Inquire about your symptoms, past medical conditions, ongoing medications, and more.
- Examine your oral cavity and the area around it.
- Order tests as necessary to obtain precise photographs of the maxillofacial structures, such as dental X-rays or 3D scans.
- Identify the problem and suggest surgery or other treatments.
How is maxillofacial surgery performed?
Depending on the issue and method, maxillofacial surgery varies substantially. You can go home the same day after some surgeries that can be performed in an outpatient setting. In order to attain the desired results, other treatment methods call for several procedures.
Maxillofacial surgeons are qualified and permitted to use anesthetic to lessen or eliminate discomfort. You will be informed by your medical team as to whether you will require an aesthesia and which kind is most suitable for you.
Your surgeon might use stitches to repair any surgical wounds toward the end of the procedure. Additionally, your surgeon might put packing in your mouth to absorb fluids like blood and pus and protect your teeth or the wound.
