Maxillofacial Surgery
Maxillofacial surgery is a special type of dentistry. It’s similar to oral surgery. But in addition to treating conditions affecting your mouth, it also treats conditions affecting your jaw, face and neck.
Maxillofacial surgeries may include:
- Dental bone grafting.
- Cleft lip and cleft palate repair.
- Dental implants.
- Jaw (orthognathic) surgery.
- Maxillectomy.
- Reconstructive facial surgery.
- Sleep apnea surgery
What conditions are treated with maxillofacial surgery?
- Broken jaws.
- Chronic facial pain.
- Congenital (present at birth) facial abnormalities.
- Facial fractures (includes cheekbones, eye sockets and jaws).
- Head and neck cancers.
- Jaw cysts and tumors.
- Prognathism (a protrusion of one or both jaws).
- TMJ disorders
Procedure Details
Your healthcare provider will tell you what to expect. But here’s a general idea of what happens the day of your surgery:
- A trusted friend or family member will drive you to the hospital.
- A healthcare provider will give you general anesthesia so you can sleep through your procedure.
- Once you’re asleep, your surgeon will make one or more incisions. The location of these incisions depends on the type of surgery you have.
- Your surgeon will do the surgery using small, specialized instruments. They may also take dental X-rays during the procedure.
- Once your procedure is over, your surgeon will close your incisions with stitches and cover the surgical site.
What happens after maxillofacial surgery?
After maxillofacial surgery, your healthcare team will move you to a recovery room. As the anesthesia wears off, you may have some discomfort. Your healthcare provider will prescribe medication to help.
Your stitches will dissolve in about a week. Or your surgeon will remove them during your follow-up visit.
What are the potential benefits of maxillofacial surgery?
Pain relief. Misaligned jaws or teeth can cause symptoms like facial pain, headaches and toothaches. Maxillofacial surgery can correct these issues and get you out of pain.
Better function. Jaw and facial conditions can interfere with biting, chewing and speaking. Maxillofacial surgery ensures that all structures work together harmoniously.
Improved health. Conditions and injuries of your mouth or face can take a toll on your oral and overall health. Sometimes, surgery is the only way to get rid of infection and reduce your risk for further damage.
What are the risks or complications of maxillofacial surgery?
- Excessive bleeding.
- Damage to your nerves.
- Dry socket.
- Infection.
- Injury to your bones or tissues.
- Numbness or changes in sensation in your mouth or face
Recovery and Outlook
- Recovery after maxillofacial surgery depends on the type of procedure you have. You’ll likely have some discomfort, sensitivity, swelling and bleeding.
- Apply ice packs to reduce inflammation.
- Elevate your head and take all the medications that was prescribed.
- Get lots of rest and call the doctor if symptoms persist for a long time.
