What Does an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Do?
Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons, also known as oral surgeons (OMS), are dental specialists who diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses in the neck, jaw, head, and face, including the hard and soft tissues of the area. This specialization requires medical, dental, and surgical training.
What Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Treat?
Maxillofacial surgeons treat many diseases, injuries, and conditions located in the head and neck area, focusing on both a favorable and aesthetic outcome. Some of the conditions treated include:
Impacted wisdom teeth
Oral reconstruction surgery
Head and neck cancers
Facial trauma
What Procedures Do Maxillofacial Surgeons Perform?
Oral maxillofacial surgeons offer many procedures to treat conditions throughout the head and neck, correcting health, function, and appearance. As OMS surgeons have received training in dentistry, medicine, and surgery, they are equipped to face these diseases, injuries, and existing conditions from all angles. Some procedures offered by maxillofacial surgeons are:
Cleft lip and palate surgery: a series of surgeries on congenital deformities in a person’s palate — the roof of their mouth — and lip, which can make breathing, eating, and speaking difficult. This surgery can also improve facial appearance, boosting self-esteem.
Dental implants and reconstruction: dental implants can replace missing teeth and stabilize the jawbone, though sometimes this requires bone grafting the tooth to the jaw.
Orthognathic surgery: also called corrective jaw surgery, this procedure realigns the jaw to get rid of bite issues and other causes of chronic jaw pain.
Cosmetic Services: OMS surgeons can Botox® and facial fillers are also administered by many OMS.
What Training Do Maxillofacial Surgeons Go Through?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have to receive extensive training to gain their full accreditation. After attending a full bachelor’s degree program, they must attend and graduate from dental school, which takes four years. Following this, OMS surgeons must complete a four- to six-year surgical residency. The two year difference can gain the surgeon a medical degree in addition to their dental degree. Once the maxillofacial surgeons have completed their residency, MANY take the extra step of taking the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery exam to become certified surgeons.
Once they pass, OMS surgeons are free to practice independently. Those who wish to further specialize may pursue an additional two-year fellowship and certification exam in a chosen field. Available specialties include craniofacial surgery, pediatric surgery, head and neck oncology, and cosmetic facial surgery.
Can Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Use Anesthesia?
During their surgical residency, maxillofacial surgeons are trained on how to administer and evaluate patients on anesthesia, both general and local. Because of this training, OMS surgeons do have the skill and ability to administer anesthesia from mild sedation to general anesthesia. Many oral maxillofacial surgeons administer their own anesthesia or pain control.. Ultimately, this can vary by surgeon, so always feel free to ask your surgeon any questions you have to make yourself more comfortable.
Reach Out
Do you have questions about maxillofacial surgeons? Do you have jaw pain, and you’re unsure who to go to for treatment? Dr. LT Johnson, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Bellaire Modern Dental, is happy to answer your questions and help you move forward with a new smile.
