Oral and maxillofacial surgeon

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An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a regional specialist surgeon treating the anatomical area of the mouth, jaws and the face as well as associated structures.

Originally a specialty of dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has become a true regional surgical specialty devoted to a well-defined anatomical region.

Oral & maxillofacial surgeons are initially qualified in dentistry and have undergone a further 4-6 years of specialty surgical training. Some OMFS residencies integrate a medical education & confer an appropriate degree medicine (MBBS or MD or equivalent), but not all, and OMFS is universally recognized as a specialty of dentistry. All oral & maxillofacial surgeons receive a degree in dentistry (BDS, DDS or DMD or equivalent) before beginning residency training. Following undergraduate training in dentistry, trainees spend an additional 4-6 years in specialty surgical training.

Treatments may be performed on the mouth, jaws, face, and/or neck, and include:

• Dentoalveolar surgery (surgery to remove impacted teeth, difficult tooth extractions, extractions on medically compromised patients, or preprosthetic surgery to provide better anatomy for the placement of dentures or other dental prostheses)
• Diagnosis and treatment of benign pathology of the region (cysts, tumors etc.)
• Diagnosis and treatment of malignant pathology of the region (oral and head and neck cancer)
• Diagnosis and treatment of congenital malformations such as cleft lip and palate
• Diagnosis and treatment of chronic facial pain disorders
• Diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
• Diagnosis and treatment of dysgnathia (incorrect bite), and orthognathic (literally "straight bite") reconstructive surgery
• Diagnosis and treatment of soft and hard tissue trauma of the oral and maxillofacial region (jaw fractures, cheek bone fractures, nasal fractures, frontal bone fractures and eye socket fractures
• Diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous malignancy (skin cancer surgery on the head and neck)
• Surgery to insert osseointegrated (bone fused) dental implants
• Splint and surgical treatment of sleep apnea (in conjunction with sleep labs or physicians)

Many oral and maxillofacial surgeons subspecialise in an area of interest and some undertake further training in craniomaxillofacial surgery, head and neck cancer surgery, facial plastic surgery etc.

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