Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat a wide range of conditions affecting the face, head, and neck, including cancers, cleft lip and palate, facial trauma, jaw disorders, and dental issues. Their expertise extends from life-saving resections to reconstructive and cosmetic procedures that restore function, appearance, and quality of life. These specialized surgeries help patients overcome pain, regain confidence, and return to normal daily activities.
In our last article, we discussed the “maxillofacial” part of the term “oral and maxillofacial surgery.” This other aspect of the oral surgeon’s job involves surgical procedures on the face, head, and neck, treating a vast array of different conditions affecting patients’ health, comfort, livelihood, and even their mental well-being.
This month, we’re looking at some of the most common conditions that can be treated with maxillofacial and oral surgery. Some are dangerous, life-threatening conditions requiring prompt surgical intervention. Others may be less critical but no less important to the patient seeking relief from pain or a return to a normal way of life.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to Treat Cancers
Cancers that affect the structures or soft tissues of the face, neck, and head can be some of the most aggressive, fastest-spreading cancers in the human body. Early detection and prompt treatment – including the resection (removal) of cancerous tissue – can mean the difference between life and death for these patients.
When an oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs a resection, they remove all traces of the cancerous tissue. Then, using their knowledge of facial reconstruction techniques, they can begin repairing the damage caused by the cancer and restoring—to the extent possible—the patient’s appearance.
Common cancers treated by oral and maxillofacial surgeries include:
- Laryngeal (voice box) and hypopharyngeal (lower throat) cancer
- Nasopharyngeal (upper throat) cancer
- Cancer of the salivary glands
- Oral cancer and oropharyngeal (throat) cancer
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to Correct Congenital Conditions
A number of genetic or developmental conditions can lead to someone being born with deformities to the face and head. The two most common are the related conditions of cleft lip and cleft palate.
Both of these conditions occur when a fetus undergoes what’s known as “atypical development.” During the formation of the tissues of the head, the two halves of the tissues that make up the mouth fail to close completely, leaving a cleft, or gap, in the roof of an infant’s mouth, upper lip, or both.
Cleft palates and lips can lead to speech, language, breathing, eating, and hearing problems. They can also make children self-conscious about their appearance and leave them withdrawn and unable to engage with those around them.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform reconstructive procedures to close the cleft in a patient’s lip, palate, or both. Once the surgery is complete, the patient should enjoy an improved life experience, with less trouble speaking, eating, and breathing and a better overall outlook on life.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to Repair Trauma
Car accidents, sports injuries, physical assaults, burns, exposure to chemicals, and countless other unpleasant occurrences can lead to facial trauma – damage to the bones or soft tissues of the face. In addition to causing severe, sometimes excruciating pain, facial traumas can make talking, eating, breathing, or staying hydrated painful or even impossible.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializes in operating on these traumas, restoring a patient’s facial structure and allowing them to move on with life following their injury. The most common injuries and traumas include:
- Facial Fractures
- Broken jaw
- Cracked/broken teeth
- Midface fractures, such as broken cheekbones
- Orbital (eye socket) fractures
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Torn skin, cuts, and scrapes to the face
- Thermal burns and chemical burns
- Nerve damage that affects the facial muscles
- Cuts or lacerations of the tongue
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to Correct Jaw and Dental Issues
All types of oral surgery fall under the umbrella of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including procedures to place dental implants, reshape the jaw, perform bone grafts, and more.
In this capacity, oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat a wide variety of conditions. With their deep knowledge of both facial structures and dentistry, oral surgeons are able to perform surgeries correcting:
- TMJ disorder
- Abscessed teeth
- Bone loss in the jaw
- Impacted teeth
- Overbite/underbite
- Missing teeth
- Tumors or lesions in the mouth
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Cosmetic Purposes
Not all oral and maxillofacial procedures are performed to repair damage from a medical condition or injury. Specific cosmetic procedures are also commonly performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Cosmetic surgery allows people whose appearance has been affected by illness or trauma to recover their former appearance, granting them confidence and helping them continue their lives following their injury or disease.
Cosmetic surgeries are also an option for individuals who are dissatisfied with their appearance and want to change it. From rhinoplasty to chin or facial sculpting, oral and maxillofacial surgeons can help their patients live their best lives.
Are You in Need of Reconstructive Surgery or Another Maxillofacial Surgery? Let Us Know.
Our team will evaluate your case and create a surgical treatment plan to resolve the issue, restore proper functions, and relieve any pain.
Schedule a maxillofacial surgery consultation with our team today! 706-549-5033
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