Lots of people have misconceptions about maxillofacial surgeons. Some think they only perform a single type of surgery, and many may not even know what the word “maxillofacial” means. The short of it is that a doctor who performs maxillofacial surgery diagnoses and treats injuries and diseases all around the face. That includes the neck, jaws, and tissue inside our mouths in addition to the face itself.
While that sounds like a lot of areas to specialize in, a maxillofacial oral surgeon is trained in both dentistry and medicine during their studies. This multifaceted training allows them to attain a deeper understanding of facial anatomy and how everything connects.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most common reasons why patients visit a local maxillofacial surgeon, as well as some you may not have known about.
Maxillofacial Surgeons Help with Wisdom Teeth Troubles
If you or someone in your family is dealing with wisdom teeth that have breached the surface of the gums or long-term complications from impacted wisdom teeth, a consultation with a skilled maxillofacial surgeon will help.
Dental surgeons specializing in maxillofacial surgery are equipped with the know-how and tools to tackle pain, swelling, and infection from impacted wisdom teeth. There’s usually not enough room in our mouths for wisdom teeth to come in without interference, and impaction occurs when part of the tooth gets trapped beneath the gums. This can lead to a whole host of problems, including cysts, inflammation, and infection.
With their anatomical knowledge, oral surgeons specializing in maxillofacial dentistry are adept at navigating the intricacies of wisdom tooth removal.
Facial Injuries and Trauma are No Match for Maxillofacial Surgeons
It’s a sad fact of life: accidents happen, and sometimes they come with facial trauma, fractured facial bones, and more. If you’re dealing with major facial injuries or trauma, the maxillofacial surgeon down the road can help restore your winning smile. Broken arms or legs can be casted, but facial fractures are realigned and stabilized by your maxillofacial dentist using small plates and titanium screws in a process called rigid fixation.
They can even assist in treating dislocated jaws, where the lower jaw pops out of its socket. Experienced surgeons who practice maxillofacial dentistry can reset the jaw back to its proper place, usually with the aid of dental sedation.
The goal in these types of situations is for the maxillofacial surgeon to restore both form and function to the affected areas. It’s as much about the aesthetics as it is the practicality and restoration of critical functions needed for a return to normal life.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
TMJ isn’t something you hear about a ton, but it’s another problem that the maxillofacial surgeon local to you can help with. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the skull, and TMJ refers to when this joint is misaligned, damaged, or inflamed. People suffering from TMJ could experience these symptoms:
- Jaw pain
- Limited jaw movement
- Clicking and popping noises when opening and closing the mouth
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Facial pain
Dental surgeons specialized in treating jaw disorders can diagnose TMJ through physical examinations and X-rays that show the jaw and surrounding areas. Treatment can differ based on the severity of the TMJ disorder, and a specialist could recommend surgical or non-surgical options. Non-surgical treatments such as splints or physical therapy to improve jaw mobility and manage pain are common in minor cases.
In more serious TMJ cases, your maxillofacial surgeon may recommend a surgical procedure. This usually comes in the form of an arthroscopy or open joint surgery to repair and restore damaged sections of the temporomandibular joint and anything else contributing to the disorder.
Other Dental Issues Maxillofacial Surgeons Help With
Beyond procedures like wisdom tooth extraction and facial reconstruction, maxillofacial surgeons can also fix a variety of other problems:
- Jaw pain
- Bone grafting
- Corrective jaw surgery for underbites and overbites
- Dental implants
- Complex tooth extractions
Maxillofacial Surgeons Go Beyond Just the Jaw and Face
While maxillofacial surgeons are quick to get lumped in with dental surgeons for issues surrounding the jaw and mouth, they’re actually able to help patients with a variety of conditions whose root cause may originate close to the mouth, such as:
- Facial paralysis – this is treated via nerve grafting or muscle transfers to replace the damaged facial nerve causing the paralysis.
- Craniofacial anomalies – Maxillofacial surgeons treat craniofacial defects through cleft and lip palate and craniosynostosis repair.
- Salivary gland disorders – saliva is essential for digestion and even your oral health. Infections, tumors, and salivary stones are removed via surgical procedures, restoring normal function of the glands.
Maxillofacial surgery is a highly specialized field with extensively trained oral healthcare surgeons who are familiar with the anatomy of the neck up and can provide innovative solutions to common health conditions.
Maxillofacial Surgeons Even Treat Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder where periods of breathing are interrupted when the throat muscles relax and prevent air from entering the lungs. People with sleep apnea experience poor sleep quality, increased daytime drowsiness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating as a result of interruptions to their sleep cycle. Most people with sleep apnea end up getting a CPAP machine to maintain a constant oxygen supply while asleep.
So, how can a maxillofacial surgeon help? Thanks to different oral appliances and surgical intervention techniques, a skilled oral surgeon can tackle the underlying anatomical issues that cause your sleep apnea. These are the oral appliances commonly used to treat sleep apnea:
- Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) – These are custom devices that slide over the upper and lower teeth, shifting the lower jaw forward and opening up the airway.
- Tongue retaining devices (TRDs) – As the name implies, a TRD holds the tongue in place, preventing it from collapsing backwards and blocking the throat in the first place.
There are also a few treatments that dental surgeons specializing in maxillofacial procedures can perform to fix sleep apnea and restore patients’ quality of sleep:
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – Look, if we’re being honest, we can barely pronounce this either. This mouthful of a procedure reduces the size of a patient’s uvula, tonsils, and soft palate to open up the airway.
- Maxillomandibular advancement surgery (MMA) – If the patient’s jaw structure is what’s causing sleep apnea, this surgery reconstructs and moves the jaw forward, which also opens up the airway.
- Hyoid suspension – A hyoid is a small bone located in the neck, and this surgery suspends that bone, opening the airways to the lungs.
The most appropriate treatment for sleep apnea really comes down to the patient’s unique situation and anatomy. An oral surgeon who performs mouth reconstruction surgeries can evaluate a patient’s specific needs in this area and suggest the best sleep apnea treatment option for them.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
Scheduling a consultation with a maxillofacial oral surgeon in your area is the first step to treating your issue, whatever the symptoms you present with. When you schedule an appointment, this information will be helpful:
- Relevant medical history
- Medication lists
- Allergies (food, medication)
- Previous dental records
- Insurance information
Before heading down to meet us at our Wilmington surgery, you might also want to jot down a handful of questions you have about the procedure or the symptoms you’re experiencing.
During your appointment, your local doctor who works in maxillofacial dentistry will give you a comprehensive oral and/or facial examination. This involves assessing things like jaw movement, areas of concern, and inspecting the mouth, teeth, gums, and tissues. Your oral surgeon might also bring you back for an X-ray of the problem area.
Once the diagnostic imaging and examinations are over, your maxillofacial surgeon will explain in layman’s terms what their findings are and how they relate to the symptoms you’re experiencing. Following this and any other questions you may have, the surgeon will help schedule a follow-up appointment and will discuss estimated costs and insurance coverage.
If you’re experiencing any of the issues we’ve mentioned in this post, don’t wait. A caring and compassionate maxillofacial surgeon is ready to help if you’re anywhere near Cincinnati, Hillsboro, or Greenfield.
