Maxillofacial surgery treats issues related to oral health; this includes addressing functional and cosmetic concerns as well. Maxillofacial surgeons go through extensive education and training and choose to specialize in treating more advanced dental concerns that require surgical intervention to properly address.
Maxillofacial surgery may be necessary to treat more severe oral health problems. The following review discusses maxillofacial surgery, including an explanation of what it is, the different types of surgeries, its safety, and more.
It may seem like a complex term, but maxillofacial surgery simply refers to surgery related to the lower part of the face (like the jaw, teeth, gums, etc.). In fact, the term “maxilla” means jawbone in Latin, so maxillofacial is a way of describing the jaw and surrounding facial areas, including teeth. A maxillofacial surgeon is a dental specialist who can surgically treat a range of dental-related matters.
Maxillofacial surgery is a relatively broad term that includes a range of different surgery types. While the term “maxilla” technically refers to the jawbone, maxillofacial surgeons can treat issues related to teeth and soft tissues as well. Some of the more common types of surgical procedures that a maxillofacial surgeon may perform include:
Of course, the above list includes only a few of the many possible procedures a maxillofacial surgeon may offer. Additional procedures may also include treatment for cleft palate, chronic facial pain, cancer (to remove a tumor), and more.
Every surgical procedure has risks and requires recovery. Some of the risks are related to the anesthesia that is administered. Each procedure also has specific risks as well. However, maxillofacial surgery is safe overall, and severe complications are rare for most types of procedures.
As mentioned, most maxillofacial surgeries require recovery, which can take anywhere from a few days to more than a week depending on the type of procedure and its invasiveness. The oral surgeon should provide aftercare instructions to reduce the risk of an oral infection and make the recovery process as short and simple as possible.
After examination of dental X-rays and other diagnostic tests, a maxillofacial surgeon (or another type of dental professional) can explain all treatment options and their risks to the patient. Surgery may be the best option if non-surgical methods have not or are not able to help the patient meet their goals.
You can connect with our oral surgery team today by phone or message to set up a consultation visit. Whether you have a referral from your dentist for oral surgery or are considering maxillofacial surgery in general, we look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve your treatment goals.
Request an appointment here: https://arroyogrande.centralcoastoms.com or call Wilson Oral Surgery at (805) 476-2567 for an appointment in our Arroyo Grande office.
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