What is an Oral Surgeon
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are the only dental specialists recognized by the American Dental Association who are surgically trained in a hospital-based residency program for a minimum of four years. OMS’s train alongside medical residents in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology. They rotate with their medical colleagues through various medical disciplines including, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, emergency medicine and other specialty areas. Their training focuses almost exclusively on the hard (ie, bone) and soft (ie, skin, muscle) tissue of the face, mouth, and jaws.
Patients are referred to an Oral Surgeon for their knowledge and surgical expertise and thorough understanding of both aesthetics and function uniquely qualifies them to diagnose, treat, manage defects, injuries of the maxillofacial area.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are also extensively trained in the rehabilitation of missing dentition. Through their expert knowledge of bone grafting as well as the use of different implant protocols; for example, the “tilted implant concept, Bar Attachment Denture” , as well as the most advanced surgery for the treatment of the most difficult cases, the “Zygoma Concept”, allows them to provide a safe and predictable treatment outcome for their patients.
Through many years of learning and training, the Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon understands the harmony between functional and aesthetic treatment plans.
Patients who visit their family dentist or primary care provider with complaints of pain or dysfunction in the oral and maxillofacial region are often referred to an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon for help.
After the conclusion of this demanding program, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are well prepared to perform the full scope of the specialty, which encompasses the diagnosis, surgical and related management of diseases, injuries and defects that involve both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the following oral and maxillofacial regions:
- Outpatient Anesthesia
- Dentoalveolar Surgery to manage diseases of the teeth and their supporting soft and hard tissues
- Surgical Correction of Maxillofacial Skeletal Deformities
- Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery
- Facial Trauma Surgery
- Temporomandibular Joint Surgery
- Pathologic Conditions, such as head and neck cancer
- Facial Reconstructive Surgery
- Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Manage diseases of the teeth and their supporting soft and hard tissues.
- Surgically reconstruct inadequate bone structure in the jaw area.
- Evaluate, plan a course of treatment and place dental implants to replace one, two or a mouthful of missing teeth.
- Expertly treat head and neck trauma and injuries to the face, jaws, mouth and teeth.
- Diagnose and treat facial pain.
- Diagnose and treat oral cancer and other diseases in the maxillofacial region.
- Perform corrective jaw surgery to improve the function and appearance of patients with such conditions as cleft lip and palate and other congenital defects.
- Diagnose and surgically treat obstructive sleep apnea.
- Perform facial cosmetic procedures to enhance facial appearance and function.
Office Surgery and Anesthesia
The oral and maxillofacial surgery residency incorporates extensive anesthesia training that enables Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to performs a wide variety of procedures in both an office setting and a hospital environment. Local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, intravenous sedation and general anesthesia are competently and safely administered in the oral and maxillofacial surgery office and appropriately selected to meet the requirements of the patient and the procedure. Office-based surgery is often the most efficient and cost effective way to perform many procedures while maintaining maximum patient comfort and safety.