Maxillofacial dental surgeons deal with a lot. On a regular basis, they not only have to navigate complex surgical procedures, but they also have to hold space for the emotional and psychological aspect of it. The reality is that dental surgeons who perform full facial reconstruction operations see a large number of patients with severe facial deformities following trauma or an accident. These obvious facial deformities take a toll on the patient’s mental and emotional health, and the best maxillofacial surgeons have to be caregivers in multiple senses.
The Emotional Toll on Patients
Patients who present with oral healthcare complications and facial deformities that require extensive surgeries like bone grafting inside their mouth and other mouth and tooth reconstruction operations often don’t feel great about things, both on a physical and mental level. Facial deformities drastically change the way we view ourselves. What once was a happy, active person could be reduced to a shell of their former self before visiting with a facial trauma oral surgeon. Patients might develop negative self-image and view themselves as deformed, unattractive, and unworthy. They might develop avoidant behavior, neglecting to go out in public or see friends in fear of being stared at.
It’s an insidious condition that often requires great amounts of personal strength to overcome. Dental surgeons who routinely perform facial reconstruction can help, and they have the unique ability to provide empathy and compassionate care to their patients.
How Empathy and Compassion Factor into Patient Care
One of the secret requirements of being known as a top-tier maxillofacial surgeon who everyone wants to go to is being a good listener. Active listening, validation, and emotional support are all part of the job. Well, that and performing tough surgeries like bone grafting inside the mouth, and completely reconstructing the mouth from scratch. A maxillofacial dental surgeon who provides top-quality care understands the concerns and fears of their patients who are undoubtedly facing anxiety and the aftermath of facial trauma.
Dental doctors who perform oral surgery often provide emotional support too. They offer reassurance and compassion to the patient throughout the whole process. It starts with validating their feelings and concerns at the consultation and ends with seeing a bright, shining smile as they go out the door following the operation. If you’re ever worried about an upcoming dental surgery, talk to your surgeon about it—chances are, they’ll do everything in their ability to make you feel comfortable.
The Emotional Impact on Maxillofacial Surgeons
Dental surgeons who deal in facial trauma also bear witness to quite a bit of patient suffering, and it takes an emotional impact on them as well. Seeing patients suffering from poor self-esteem and a deflated sense of self puts the pressure on to get the best outcome possible. Much like ER doctors and anyone else providing hands-on healthcare who witness gruesome trauma on a near-daily basis, it’s vital to have a stress management system and practice self-care. That might involve having a therapist who can listen to their surgical experiences or even practicing mindfulness techniques.
For the emotional toll that it places on an oral surgeon, the profession is also highly rewarding. The satisfaction of playing a direct role in improving a patient’s quality of life is like almost nothing else. They see the patient at nearly every stage of their facial trauma or injury. And then they get to be the one that makes a huge difference in their lives by restoring their smile and giving them their confidence back. Compassionate facial trauma surgeons are everything to their patients. Amidst all the emotional turmoil, it’s worth it to see their patient happy and smiling after the recovery process at their follow-up.
While dental surgeons specializing in maxillofacial procedures are some of the most skilled medical professionals out there, they’re also arguably the most compassionate ones. It takes a special kind of person to work in full mouth reconstruction. If you ever find yourself in the throes of severe facial trauma, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local maxillofacial dental surgeon—they’ll be there for you every step of the way.
