What is Difference Between Oral Surgery and Maxillofacial?
Posted on 4/11/2022 by Cole Anderson, DMD, MS |
 Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry that encompasses both medicine and dentistry together. Oral surgery ranges from a dental implant placement procedure to tooth extraction, and it is surgery performed in the mouth. Oral surgery is usually performed by a range of specialists besides an oral surgeon, and there's a difference between seeing an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and having oral surgery performed.
Therefore, oral, and maxillofacial surgeons work on the jaw, face, and oral cavity, while oral surgery is a category of procedures. This confusion has led to most people inquiring about the difference between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) and general surgery.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Also referred to as oral surgery or dentoalveolar surgery, OMS comprises a range of surgeries from an intrusive complex surgical procedure to simple tooth extraction. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons usually address complications associated with soft tissue, jaws, teeth, and face.
There are many reasons why a patient is advised to see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Most of the patients in this category require oral surgery due to: diseases, trauma, accidental injuries, deformities, tooth loss, periodontal disease, and dental caries. A local anesthetic is usually used during these procedures. However, depending on the type of procedure, the surgeon can combine local anesthetic and general anesthetic.
Candidates for OMS
There are many complications that jaw surgery can correct, especially conditions resulting from skeletal irregularities. There are times when the lower and upper jaw may grow at different rates, or trauma may be misaligned due to heredity and facial trauma. Patents with such challenges usually experience difficulties in biting, chewing, speech impairments, cosmetic issues, sleep apnea, and protruding jaw, among many other things.
It is important to talk to a dental expert to ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications for oral and maxillofacial surgery. This is important to ensure that the surgery has a high rate of success and minimum downtime.
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