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Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a highly complex and specialized field within dentistry. General dentists and other dental specialists are usually adept at addressing various oral health concerns.
However, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat intricate conditions that affect the face, mouth, and jaws. Let’s discuss this further.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) performs a variety of procedures. While they can perform routine dental procedures, they focus on more complex issues such as:
They can also do other procedures:
Cancers in the head and neck region often require specialized surgical expertise. An OMFS can remove tumors or cancerous growths and may participate in the reconstructive process.
If your jaws don’t line up properly, it can cause several problems. An OMFS can surgically reposition the jaws to improve your bite, helping you both eat and speak more easily. They also perform surgeries for sleep apnea and snoring.
These surgeries restore function and appearance after disease, injury, or congenital defects. For example, cleft lip and palate can impact both appearance and function.
An OMFS works as part of a team to provide comprehensive care for babies born with these conditions.
An OMFS is skilled at reconstructing facial bones and setting jaws after a traumatic injury. They’re often the first line of treatment for facial trauma, including fractures of the jaw, facial bones, and teeth.
Certain symptoms may warrant a visit to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for specialized care:
Becoming a skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon is no easy feat. It takes years of rigorous training and multiple steps to transform a bright student into a highly competent expert.
Let’s break down what this journey looks like:
The journey to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon begins with education.
During their four years of undergraduate education, they typically focus on science-heavy courses like biology, anatomy, and chemistry. This gives them a strong foundation for the more specialized medical studies to come.
After undergraduate school, there are four years of dental school, where the focus is on teeth. Students learn the fundamentals of dentistry, including how to diagnose and treat issues with teeth, gums, and jawbones. This in-depth understanding of the mouth and its structures is vital for maxillofacial surgeons.
Medical school is optional but often pursued. Some future maxillofacial surgeons choose to attend medical school after finishing dental school to gain their MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree.
This adds a couple of years to their training but allows them to become experts in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions beyond those in the mouth and jaw.
After dental school and medical school comes residency. Oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies are usually 4 to 6 years long and occur in a hospital setting.
Residents gain real-world experience, working alongside experienced surgeons and other specialized healthcare professionals. They master surgical procedures on the face, mouth, and jaws, as well as critical areas like anesthesia and general surgery techniques.
Some surgeons continue their training even further with fellowships lasting one to two years. This is where they can specialize in even narrower areas like:
The final steps are getting licensed as a dentist and obtaining the prestigious board certification specifically for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. This represents the years of hard work they put into their field. However, that’s not where it ends as continuing education is essential to keep licenses and certifications active.
We created a table that highlights the differences between a general dentist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon:
General Dentist | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | |
Education | Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of dental school (DDS or DMD) | Bachelor’s degree, 4 years of dental school (DDS or DMD), and 4 to 6 years of surgical residency |
Primary Role | Primary care provider for general dental health | Specialist in surgical treatment of complex conditions affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck |
Common Procedures | Routine cleanings, fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals, and simple extractions | Complex extractions (e.g., wisdom teeth), dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, treatment of facial injuries, oral cancer treatment, reconstructive surgery |
Technology and Techniques | Uses standard dental technology for routine care | Utilizes advanced technology (e.g., 3D imaging, computer-guided surgery) for precision in complex procedures |
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are specialized experts in treating complex conditions of the face, mouth, and jaws. Their skills extend beyond routine dental care to include corrective jaw surgeries and facial reconstruction.
If you have persistent pain or unusual symptoms in your face or mouth, consult an oral surgeon for diagnosis. They can create a personalized treatment plan to restore oral health and confidence.
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