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An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) is one of the dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. An OMFS takes extra university training courses to learn a range of procedures and treatments to treat some of the more difficult dental and mouth problems. The best Dallas dentists know when it’s time to refer to a specialist to ensure that their patients receive the best care possible.
An oral surgeon is usually part of a team of dental practitioners working on a treatment plan. Oral surgeons work with ear, nose and throat specialists (otolaryngologists), orthodontists, cosmetic dentists, general dentists, periodontists and endodontists as necessary as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Procedures or Treatments an Oral Surgeon Performs
An oral surgeon is skilled to perform several procedures under local, oral, nitrous oxide, intravenous or general anesthetic. These procedures include:
1) Placement of dental implants and bone grafting to replace missing teeth. Implants have become the treatment of choice to replace missing or extracted teeth. Depending on the height, width and quality of bone, bone grafting may be necessary. The surgeon may use “autogenous” bone; that is bone harvested from another area within the mouth (usually the wisdom tooth area) or the hip area, or artificial bone substances. Autogenous bone is often combined with a little artificial bone to obtain the best result and encourage bone regeneration, particularly in patients with a history of periodontal infection or other conditions that would affect quality of bone;
2) Extraction of teeth or in other cases of multiple dental extractions. If the teeth are buried deeply in the bone, tilted or tipped, or multiple erupted teeth need to be extracted in a less-than-ideal hygiene situation, it may be best for an oral surgeon to complete the extractions;
3) Examination of jaw joint issues. Oral surgeons are skilled and qualified to prescribe and monitor night guard or bite splint treatment, or other procedures to help alleviate and treat TMJ issues;
4) Cleft lip and/or palate repair. When a child is born with a cleft lip (where the lip doesn’t come down over the front teeth) and/or poor development or no development of bone in the upper jaw (palate), the surgical treatment required to repair the defect will be carried out by an oral surgeon
5) Orthognathic surgery. To optimize the results of orthodontic alignment of teeth, jaw movement surgery may be included in an overall treatment plan. This usually means dislocating the jaw and then resetting it into proper position with pins. This surgery may include extraction of wisdom teeth, other teeth that might affect appropriate spacing in the mouth, and placement of maxillary expansion device, which will help more bone to grow in the upper jaw to make more room from left to right.
6) Biopsy or removal of cysts or growths;
7) Diagnosis of oral cancer and related surgeries;
8) Repairs following accidents (TMJ, jaw fractures). Falls, fights, and car accidents - any kind of incident that involves a blow to the jaw can affect how the jaw functions or even cause a fracture. The treatment requires an oral surgeon to ensure the jaw heals properly and that any long-term effects are monitored and treated as they arise. An oral surgeon’s opinion is commonly required for processing of insurance claims. So, it’s important to get in to see an oral surgeon following any of these kinds of incidents.
Oral surgeons don’t just deal with teeth issues (although they don’t perform root canals or restorative care like fillings, crowns, dentures or veneers), but with any major or minor issues that affect the overall function and structure of the mouth and it’s relation to the face. An oral surgeon is often an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
An oral surgeon is usually part of a team of dental practitioners working on a treatment plan. Oral surgeons work with ear, nose and throat specialists (otolaryngologists), orthodontists, cosmetic dentists, general dentists, periodontists and endodontists as necessary as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Procedures or Treatments an Oral Surgeon Performs
An oral surgeon is skilled to perform several procedures under local, oral, nitrous oxide, intravenous or general anesthetic. These procedures include:
1) Placement of dental implants and bone grafting to replace missing teeth. Implants have become the treatment of choice to replace missing or extracted teeth. Depending on the height, width and quality of bone, bone grafting may be necessary. The surgeon may use “autogenous” bone; that is bone harvested from another area within the mouth (usually the wisdom tooth area) or the hip area, or artificial bone substances. Autogenous bone is often combined with a little artificial bone to obtain the best result and encourage bone regeneration, particularly in patients with a history of periodontal infection or other conditions that would affect quality of bone;
2) Extraction of teeth or in other cases of multiple dental extractions. If the teeth are buried deeply in the bone, tilted or tipped, or multiple erupted teeth need to be extracted in a less-than-ideal hygiene situation, it may be best for an oral surgeon to complete the extractions;
3) Examination of jaw joint issues. Oral surgeons are skilled and qualified to prescribe and monitor night guard or bite splint treatment, or other procedures to help alleviate and treat TMJ issues;
4) Cleft lip and/or palate repair. When a child is born with a cleft lip (where the lip doesn’t come down over the front teeth) and/or poor development or no development of bone in the upper jaw (palate), the surgical treatment required to repair the defect will be carried out by an oral surgeon
5) Orthognathic surgery. To optimize the results of orthodontic alignment of teeth, jaw movement surgery may be included in an overall treatment plan. This usually means dislocating the jaw and then resetting it into proper position with pins. This surgery may include extraction of wisdom teeth, other teeth that might affect appropriate spacing in the mouth, and placement of maxillary expansion device, which will help more bone to grow in the upper jaw to make more room from left to right.
6) Biopsy or removal of cysts or growths;
7) Diagnosis of oral cancer and related surgeries;
8) Repairs following accidents (TMJ, jaw fractures). Falls, fights, and car accidents - any kind of incident that involves a blow to the jaw can affect how the jaw functions or even cause a fracture. The treatment requires an oral surgeon to ensure the jaw heals properly and that any long-term effects are monitored and treated as they arise. An oral surgeon’s opinion is commonly required for processing of insurance claims. So, it’s important to get in to see an oral surgeon following any of these kinds of incidents.
Oral surgeons don’t just deal with teeth issues (although they don’t perform root canals or restorative care like fillings, crowns, dentures or veneers), but with any major or minor issues that affect the overall function and structure of the mouth and it’s relation to the face. An oral surgeon is often an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
