When should you consult a maxillofacial surgeon?

Maxillofacial surgery involves the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases, injuries, and defects affecting the skeleton, facial complex, and jawbone. As surgery encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions, various types of maxillofacial surgery are performed worldwide. 

Given the significance of the maxillofacial region, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are professionally trained to recognize and treat disorders and defects of the hard and soft tissues in the maxillofacial area.

Procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery encompass numerous types of surgical interventions, ranging from facial anomalies to skin cancer, corrective jaw surgery, cosmetic facial surgery, and sleep apnea syndrome to head and neck cancer. 

Распространенные варианты челюстно-лицевой хирургии: 

Corrective jaw surgery:

Corrects jaw and teeth deformities to improve function. This surgery not only enhances jaw and teeth function but also improves the facial appearance. 

When orthodontics cannot address jaw difficulties, surgery may be a viable alternative. 

Jaw surgeries can involve the upper jaw, known as the maxilla, or the lower jaw, known as the mandible, or a combination of both. 

 Jaw surgeries can help:

•  Resolve speech or swallowing difficulties 

•  Comfortably and fully close the mouth

•  Improve chewing and biting skills 

•  Eliminate breathing difficulties during sleep

•  Correct retraction of the lower jaw and chin 

•  Rectify unbalanced facial appearance from the side or front

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder:

One of the disorders affecting the TMJ causes pain in the muscles controlling jaw movement. In most cases, jaw or related muscle pain can be reduced with non-surgical treatments, and the pain will subside over time.

There are several types of TMJ surgeries, and the appropriate type depends on the individual characteristics or severity of the patient.

Three common types of TMJ surgeries are arthrocentesis, arthroscopy, and open joint surgery.

Dental implantology: 

Dental implants effectively replace missing teeth. A titanium screw inserted into the upper or lower jawbone serves as the material for dental implants.

In most cases, implantation is a collaborative effort, with an oral surgeon initially placing the suitable implant in the bone, followed by a restorative dentist. 

Cleft and craniofacial surgery:

Various forms of maxillofacial surgery correct congenital and acquired anomalies of the maxillofacial area. The most common form of craniofacial treatment is repairing cleft lip and palate in children. 

Maxillofacial implants: 

Maxillofacial implants are used to correct dentofacial anomalies, restore jawbone after ablative surgeries, address maxillofacial trauma, and rebuild the lost stomatognathic apparatus. 

Do not delay consulting a surgeon if the maxillofacial segment is damaged. If this happens, do not wait for the problem to resolve on its own. 

It is crucial for the initial surgical wound management and resolution of consequences to occur within the first 1-3 days after the injury. Correcting deformities is a serious and more labor-intensive treatment that requires the efforts of a surgeon and extends the recovery period after the operation.

Surgical treatment of facial trauma may take several hours and can be performed under local anesthesia or, if rapid recovery is needed after severe trauma, under general anesthesia. The absolute rehabilitation time for the patient after surgery depends on the complexity of the trauma and can range from a day to 4-5 weeks.