Scope: Conditions, Diseases, Treatments, and Procedures
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is a specialized field of dentistry that encompasses a wide range of conditions, diseases, treatments, and procedures related to the head, neck, face, jaws, and surrounding areas. OMS combines medical and dental knowledge to provide comprehensive care to patients. Specialists in the field are called oral and maxillofacial surgeons, OMSs, or oral surgeons.
Conditions and Diseases:
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Oral surgeons diagnose and treat disorders affecting the TMJ, which can cause jaw pain, difficulty in jaw movement, and associated symptoms.
Cleft Lip and Palate: Oral surgeons play a crucial role in the management of cleft lip and palate conditions, including for surgical repair and follow-up care to improve speech, eating, and overall facial aesthetics.
Facial Trauma: Oral surgeons are skilled in treating facial injuries caused by accidents, falls, or other traumatic events. They perform reconstructive procedures to restore facial structure, function, and appearance.
Facial Growth Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Oral surgeons evaluate and provide treatment options for facial growth abnormalities, such as underdeveloped or overdeveloped jaws, to ensure proper growth and alignment.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Oral surgeons commonly perform surgical extractions to remove impacted wisdom teeth that can cause pain, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth.
Dental Implants: Oral surgeons are proficient in placing dental implants to replace missing teeth. They surgically insert implants into the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for prosthetic teeth.
Reconstructive Procedures: Oral and maxillofacial surgery includes complex reconstructive surgeries to restore the facial skeleton and soft tissue structures damaged by trauma, tumors, or congenital anomalies.
Treatments and Procedures:
Corrective Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery): Oral surgeons perform orthognathic surgery to correct jaw irregularities, such as malocclusion (misalignment of the jaw), resulting in improved bite function, facial harmony, and breathing.
Wisdom Tooth Removal: Oral surgeons extract impacted wisdom teeth to alleviate pain, prevent infections, and prevent damage to adjacent teeth and structures.
Dental Implant Surgery: Oral surgeons surgically place dental implants, followed by the attachment of prosthetic teeth or dental restorations, to replace missing teeth and restore proper oral function.
Facial Trauma Repair: Oral surgeons utilize their expertise to repair facial fractures, lacerations, and other traumatic injuries, employing techniques to restore facial aesthetics and function.
Treatment of TMJ Disorders: Oral surgeons provide various treatment options for TMJ disorders, including medication, physical therapy, splints, and in some cases, surgical intervention.
The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a diverse range of conditions, diseases, treatments, and procedures related to the head, neck, face, jaws, and associated areas. Oral surgeons utilize their extensive knowledge and surgical skills to improve patients' oral health, facial function, and aesthetics, ensuring comprehensive care for individuals with diverse needs.
Qualifications, Training, and Certifications
Becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon requires a significant amount of education and training. Dental school is required to obtain a DDS or DMD degree followed by a residency program accredited by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. The duration of the residency typically ranges from four to six years, during which OMS specialists receive advanced training in various areas, including anesthesia, pathology, pharmacology, and reconstructive surgery. They also gain extensive experience in treating trauma, tumors, facial deformities, periodontal surgery, and implant dentistry. In recent decades, many oral surgeons have taken a pathway that includes medical school as well.
Related Medical Specialties
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is closely intertwined with various medical specialties, given its combination of medical and dental knowledge. Collaboration between oral surgeons and professionals from related fields enables comprehensive care for patients.
OMS often intersects with otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) when treating cases involving facial trauma or facial deformities. Plastic surgery also plays a crucial role in cases requiring reconstructive procedures or aesthetic treatments.
Furthermore, OMS professionals may collaborate with specialists in neurology, endocrinology, general dentistry, prosthodontics, orthodontics, endodontics, cosmetic dentistry, oral pathology, oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, radiology, anesthesiology, pain medicine, orthopedic surgery, and pediatric orthopedic surgery.
Dentistry, prosthodontics, orthodontics, oral pathology, endodontics, and cosmetic dentistry are closely related to OMS. Oral surgeons frequently work alongside specialists in those fields to develop comprehensive treatment plans. These plans may involve extractions, dental implants, jaw surgery, braces, and other procedures aimed at improving both function and aesthetics.
IF YOU NEED AN Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery MEDICAL EXPERT, CALL MEDILEX AT (212) 234-1999.