by The Head & Neck Centre of Excellence, Patel Hospital, Jalandhar
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery :-
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a branch of surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries, and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
It is a recognized international surgical specialty and it is one of the nine specialties of dentistry .
Procedures performed by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon are –
1.Surgical removal of diseased/impacted tooth :-
The most common tooth which requires surgical removal is the wisdom tooth also called as third molar. This procedure requires the removal of bone around the root of the tooth.
2.Orthognathic Surgery :-
Orthognathic surgery is performed to correct developmental growth abnormalities of the jaws and facial bones. These problems can affect not only chewing but speech and the overall health of the individual as well as the aesthetic appearance of the face.
3.Maxillofacial Trauma :-
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon repair routine and complex facial injuries , fractured jaw and facial bones, reconnect severed nerves and ducts and treat other injuries of the face and neck region.
4.Pathologic Conditions :-
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon diagnose and manage patients with diseases of the oral and maxillofacial region, including cysts, benign and malignant tumors, soft tissue and severe infections of the oral cavity and salivary glands. The reconstruction of the mouth and face following the removal of tumors represents the ability of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to return patients to optimum levels of appearance and function.
5.Dental Implants :-
Dental implants are titanium metal cylinders that replace tooth roots. They are placed into the jaw bones where bone grows into them and locks them in place.
Dental implants may comfortably and permanently replace one or more teeth and are regarded as one of the most important advances in dentistry in the last 50 years. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon plans and places dental implants to replace missing teeth.
6.Temporomandibular Joint Surgery ( jaw joint) :-
It includes the diagnosis and surgical and non-surgical management of TMJ disorders.
Procedures:
– Arthrocentesis
– Arthroscopy
– Modified condylotomy
– Open joint Surgery
7.Surgery for sleep apnea -(Snoring) –
It includes surgical repositioning of the upper jaw to improve breathing and treat obstructive sleep apnea.
