Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized field of dentistry that provides a diagnosis of several diseases as well as adjunctive treatment of serious conditions. Management of injuries, defects, and chronic conditions is an important part of O...
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized field of dentistry that provides a diagnosis of several diseases as well as adjunctive treatment of serious conditions. Management of injuries, defects, and chronic conditions is an important part of OMSF, where the esthetic and functions aspects of both soft and hard tissues are treated. All in all, it is the surgical branch of dentistry.
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Nature of the work Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are well-trained and qualified to perform complicated surgical operations in the oral and maxillofacial regions. There is a wide spectrum of conditions that comes under this branch. It includes both surgical and non-surgical management of debilitating conditions. • Whether it is hard or soft tissues of the face, neck, or jaws all come within the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. • The surgeons are competent to provide the best possible care to individuals of all age groups including newborn babies, and elderly people. They provide treatment to children with deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate or those with skull deformities. • Following accidents and trauma, surgeons operate on patients, especially adults. • In elderly people, oral and maxillofacial surgeons commonly treat oral cancer and skin tumours of the head and face. • They not only have the skills to perform surgeries but can effectively manage non-surgical complications such as infections, facial pain, and oral mucosal disease.
Common procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons
The main aspect of most OSMF clinical practice is performing dental extraction of infected or impacted teeth. The impacted teeth may interfere with the successful outcome of orthodontic treatment and hence, surgical exposure of the teeth helps to achieve the goal. Surgical exposure also helps to bring the teeth into a properly functional and esthetic position.
Dentoalveolar surgery also helps in • Preparation of mouth for denture fabrication • Management of oral infections • Removal of decayed teeth • Biopsy of suspected lesions (both hard and soft tissues) • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons play an important role as they work as the referral dentist for general dentists when any complicated or difficult oral surgical problem occurs.
Dental implants consist of titanium screws that replace tooth roots. The insertion of dental implants takes place within the jaw bones and bone surrounds them so that it remains stable. They have several benefits including replacement of missing teeth, maintaining effective stability, and not dislodged easily.
Dental implants are becoming widely popular and are one of the most significant advances in dentistry. The surgeon after a thorough analysis places a dental implant and replaces the teeth. The surgeon places implants following these key components: • Proper diagnosis • Disease management • Treatment planning • Preparation of site (such as the reconstruction of bone and soft tissues) • Maintenance and regular follow-up
