Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery
Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery is a specialist area of surgical dentistry utilised to correct a
wide range of issues.
Importance of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery
Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery can be employed to correct a variety of injuries and defects in
the head and neck regions, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues which from the oral and
maxillofacial region. These treatments may include corrective jaw surgery, the treatment and
prevention of facial injury, bone grafting, dental implants, and treating TMJ dysfunction and
growth abnormalities.
Is it Right for You?
Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery is a widely recognised technique for treating people suffering
from an improper jaw bite as a result from misaligned jaws or teeth or growth abnormalities
(oral diseases) and birth defects in the upper and lower jaw development. If you’re suffering from the following symptoms corrective jaw surgery may be right for you:
- Difficulty chewing or biting food
- Trouble swallowing
- TMJ Dysfunction (hyperlink to TMJ)
- Excessive wear of the teeth
- Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when mouth is closed)
- Uneven facial appearance
- Receding chin or protruding jaw
- Inability to make the lips meet without difficulty
- Dry mouth or chronic mouth breathing
- Sleep apnoea (hyperlink to snoring sleep apnoea)
This specialist surgery is also used to treat facial trauma from motor vehicle accidents,
sports injuries and other accidents which have resulted in severe injuries to the bones of
the face (fractured jaws, etc…), intra oral lacerations, and soft tissue injuries which threaten
facial structures (such as the oral palate) or facial nerves and salivary glands or ducts.
What’s involved?
Corrective Jaw Surgery:
Orthodontic treatment is often used prior to Oral and Maxillofacial surgery to move the teeth
into the desired position for surgery. After scheduling surgery additional x-rays, pictures,
digital models are taken of your current oral state to aid in guiding the surgical procedure.
Depending on the nature and severity of your condition, corrective surgery may be
undertaken under general anaesthesia in a hospital, day surgery or at the practice and the
time frame may vary.
Whilst in surgery your Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon will reposition and correct your
jawbones in accordance with your individual requirements. Bone may be grafted, taken
away or reshaped and plates, screws, rubber bands and wires can be utilised if necessary.
Incisions are predominantly placed inside the mouth to reduce scarring and maintain your
natural aesthetics.
Bone and Soft Tissue Grafting:
Bone and Soft tissue grafting is often used throughout Oral and Maxillofacial surgery to
replace any missing bone or soft tissue or add extra if necessary. This bone or tissue is
retrieved from either a donor site (nominated part of the body) or a synthetic source.
Firstly your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will make a small incision in the donor site to
retrieve a section of tissue or bone which will then be sealed to minimise scarring. Then
this section will be used to enhance a bone or soft tissue area which is lacking to aid in the
completion of your surgery.
Treating Facial Injury and Trauma:
Soft tissue injuries and lacerations of the maxillofacial region are repaired carefully with a
technique called ‘’suturing’ which uses methods such as sewing and surgical glue to hold
sections of the maxillofacial region together. Expert care is taken to retain and restore
optimum aesthetic appearance and also repair structures such as salivary glands, ducts and
facial nerves.
Traumas and Fractures to the bones of the face are treated in a similar way to other regions
of the body. Often wiring is used to hold stabilize the jaw and facial fractures in place for
treatment. Depending on the severity and nature of the injury surgical plates or screw may
be used to stabilize the jaw.
Postoperative Care:
Your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will ensure that you are provide with all the necessary
information on what to expect with your healing process and any instruction for your
postoperative care, including prescriptions for pain medications or other treatment options if
necessary.