Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a highly complex and specialized field within dentistry. General dentists and other dental specialists are usually adept at addressing various oral health concerns.
However, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat intricate conditions that affect the face, mouth, and jaws. Let’s discuss this further.
What Do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Do?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) performs a variety of procedures. While they can perform routine dental procedures, they focus on more complex issues such as:
- Impacted wisdom teeth removal
- Dental implant placement
- Bone grafting for dental restoration
They can also do other procedures:
Complex Surgical Procedures
Cancers in the head and neck region often require specialized surgical expertise. An OMFS can remove tumors or cancerous growths and may participate in the reconstructive process.
If your jaws don’t line up properly, it can cause several problems. An OMFS can surgically reposition the jaws to improve your bite, helping you both eat and speak more easily. They also perform surgeries for sleep apnea and snoring.
Reconstructive Surgeries
These surgeries restore function and appearance after disease, injury, or congenital defects. For example, cleft lip and palate can impact both appearance and function.
An OMFS works as part of a team to provide comprehensive care for babies born with these conditions.
Management of Traumatic Injuries
An OMFS is skilled at reconstructing facial bones and setting jaws after a traumatic injury. They’re often the first line of treatment for facial trauma, including fractures of the jaw, facial bones, and teeth.
When Should I Visit an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Certain symptoms may warrant a visit to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for specialized care:
- Pain or discomfort— Pain, swelling, or tenderness in the back of your mouth could be a sign of impacted wisdom teeth.
- Infection — Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pus discharge, or bad breath, may also indicate impacted wisdom teeth.
- TMJ disorders — Persistent pain or clicking in the jaw joint, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, or facial pain may indicate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
- Facial trauma — Facial injuries such as fractures or dislocations require immediate attention from an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
- Jaw tumors or cysts — Unexplained lumps or bumps on your jaw or face may require evaluation and treatment by a specialist.
- Insufficient bone density — If you have lost bone in your jaw due to tooth loss or gum disease, bone grafting may be necessary before dental implant placement can be successful.
- Cleft lip or palate — An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform the necessary surgical repairs to improve function and aesthetics for people with a cleft lip or palate.
- Facial deformities — If you have facial deformities due to trauma, disease, or congenital conditions, reconstructive surgery may be an option to improve function and appearance.
Education and Training for Maxillofacial Surgeons
Becoming a skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon is no easy feat. It takes years of rigorous training and multiple steps to transform a bright student into a highly competent expert.
Let’s break down what this journey looks like:
Education
The journey to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon begins with education.
Undergraduate
An aspiring OMFS starts with a college degree. During their four years of undergraduate education, they typically focus on science-heavy courses like biology, anatomy, and chemistry. This gives them a strong foundation for the more specialized medical studies to come.
Dental School
After undergraduate school, there are four years of dental school, where the focus is on teeth. Students learn the fundamentals of dentistry, including how to diagnose and treat issues with teeth, gums, and jawbones. This in-depth understanding of the mouth and its structures is vital for maxillofacial surgeons.
Medical School
Medical school is optional but often pursued. Some future maxillofacial surgeons choose to attend medical school after finishing dental school to gain their MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree.
This adds a couple of years to their training but allows them to become experts in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions beyond those in the mouth and jaw.
Residency
After dental school and medical school comes residency. Oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies are usually 4 to 6 years long and occur in a hospital setting.
Residents gain real-world experience, working alongside experienced surgeons and other specialized healthcare professionals. They master surgical procedures on the face, mouth, and jaws, as well as critical areas like anesthesia and general surgery techniques.
Fellowships
Some surgeons continue their training even further with fellowships lasting one to two years. This is where they can specialize in even narrower areas like:
- Head and neck cancer (treating complex tumors in the head and neck)
- Craniofacial surgery (repairing birth defects or injuries to the skull and face)
- Cosmetic facial surgery (procedures that focus on improving appearance)
Licensing and Certification
The final steps are getting licensed as a dentist and obtaining the prestigious board certification specifically for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. This represents the years of hard work they put into their field. However, that’s not where it ends as continuing education is essential to keep licenses and certifications active.
General Dentist vs. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
We created a table that highlights the differences between a general dentist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon:
| General Dentist | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of dental school (DDS or DMD) | Bachelor’s degree, 4 years of dental school (DDS or DMD), and 4 to 6 years of surgical residency |
| Primary Role | Primary care provider for general dental health | Specialist in surgical treatment of complex conditions affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck |
| Common Procedures | Routine cleanings, fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, and simple extractions | Complex extractions (e.g., wisdom teeth), dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, treatment of facial injuries, oral cancer treatment, reconstructive surgery |
| Technology and Techniques | Uses standard dental technology for routine care | Utilizes advanced technology (e.g., 3D imaging, computer-guided surgery) for precision in complex procedures |
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialized experts in treating complex conditions of the face, mouth, and jaws. Their skills extend beyond routine dental care to include corrective jaw surgeries and facial reconstruction.
If you have persistent pain or unusual symptoms in your face or mouth, consult an oral surgeon for diagnosis. They can create a personalized treatment plan to restore oral health and confidence.
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