Oral and Maxillofacial surgery

An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (often called OMS) is a dental specialist who’s trained to perform surgeries that correct problems with the head, neck, mouth, jaw, and face. They can treat problems such as misaligned jaws, impacted wisdom teeth, cleft lip or palate, and tumors and cysts of the jaw and mouth to mention a few, and can perform oral reconstructive surgery, dental implant surgery, and cosmetic surgery. An OMS is also trained in anesthesia and pain control.

Maxillofacial pain is common which originates from a specific area of the face. There are several causes responsible for it, such as: headaches, injuries, nerve conditions, jaw and dental problems, and oral infections. It can be differentiated into the following types, depending on the origin of pain:

• Dental pain, caused by problems with teeth and gums
• Nerve pain, caused by diseases or injuries affecting facial nerves
• Temporomandibular pain, caused by TMJ and the problems with jaw muscles
• Vascular pain, caused by issues with blood vessels and blood flow

A Maxillofacial Surgeon can treat a broad range of disorders, injuries and defects affecting the functional and aesthetical aspects of oral cavity, face, head and neck. These conditions may include:

• Impacted wisdom tooth
• Tooth and bone loss
• Misaligned jaws
• Facial trauma/injury
• Cleft lip/palate
• Sleep apnea
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Tumors and cysts of the jaws and mouth
• Congenital defects of the jaw

 In addition, they can treat cancers and problems with salivary glands, sinuses, throat, and larynx.

Time required for oral surgery to be completed is determined by number of teeth required to be extracted. A single tooth takes about 20 – 40 minutes, whereas extraction of multiple teeth takes another 10 - 15 minutes.

It takes roughly 1-2 weeks for a tooth extraction area to completely heal.

Not really, as your OMS will numb the area by applying a numbing substance and administering a local anesthesia. You’ll only feel a slight pinch when the local anesthesia is injected near the site of the tooth extraction.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the surgical specialty of dentistry which focuses on correcting functional and aesthetic problems of the oral and maxillofacial region, comprising face, oral cavity, head and neck, mouth, and jaws.

Yes, Jaw surgery or Orthognathic surgery is a part of Craniofacial and Plastic surgery that is performed to realign the position of teeth and improve the appearance of a face by readjusting the bones of the upper or lower jaw.

The procedure of Jaw procedure includes:

• Making an incision in the gums in order to access the bones of a jaw
• Cutting into the bone of a jaw and allowing it to move and realign
• Placing plates or screws to anchor the adjusted bone in its new position
• Stitching the treated area to close the incision

There are different types of orthognathic surgeries based on the severity of misalignment and positioning of a jaw. These include:

• Maxillary osteotomy for correcting problems in the upper jaw
• Mandibular Osteotomy for treating issues in the lower jaw
• Genioplasty for restructuring chin by addressing issues in the lower jaw
• Arthroplasty or arthrocentesis to treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction disorders (TMJ or TMD)

Please check with your insurance provider to confirm details on the financial coverage before scheduling your jaw surgery.

Jaw surgery is generally a safe procedure. However, as with any other surgical intervention, it may have some risks. These may include:

• A reaction to anesthesia
• Excessive bleeding
• Injury to the nerves of the jaw
• Infection at the treated area
• Fracture of the jaw
• Problems with bite or alignment following surgery
• New TMJ pain

Jaw surgery is meant to readjust or realign the jaw to correct or treat various problems caused by misaligned jaw. This particular surgery is referred to as “Orthognathic surgery”, and is performed by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons along with an Orthodontist. Jaw surgery can help you with:

• Adjusting your bite
• Correcting and improving biting, chewing, or swallowing
• Preventing further teeth deterioration
• Correcting abnormalities that affect the symmetry of your face
• Helping alleviate pain due to TMJ disorder
• Fixing an injury or congenital condition such as a cleft palate
• Addressing breathing concerns, including obstructive sleep apnea

The cost of jaw surgery can vary, and is dependent on various factors, including: the surgeon’s fee, type of procedure, facility charges, anesthesia fee, diagnostic tests, and medications prescribed.

Although most people stay in the hospital for a day or two only after their jaw surgery, recovery and healing can take up to 12 weeks.

You can schedule your appointment with an Orthodontist or Oral and Maxillofacial Specialist at American Hospital Dubai by submitting our secure web form, appearing below.