What do Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons do?

Often seen as the bridge between medicine and dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck The scope of the specialty is extensive and includes the diagnosis and management of facial injuries, head and neck cancers, salivary gland diseases, facial disproportion, facial pain, impacted teeth, cysts and tumours of the jaws as well as numerous problems affecting the oral mucosa such as mouth ulcers and infections The principle subspecialties of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery Surgeons may choose to train and specialise in one or more of these specialised fields of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery:

Surgical treatment of head and neck cancer – the removal of the tumours and subsequent reconstruction, including microvascualar free tissue transfer.

Surgery for Craniofacial Facial Deformity - the correction of congenital or acquired facial deformity primarily to improve oro-facial function, but also often to overcome facial disfigurement and restore quality of life.

Oral & Maxillofacial - surgery of the teeth (including implants), jaws, temporomandibular joints, salivary glands and facial skin lesions.

Oral Medicine – diagnosis and management of medical conditions presenting in and around the cervico-facial structures.

Craniofacial Trauma – treatment of facial soft and hard tissue injuries of the craniofacial structures.

Cosmetic surgery – surgery to enhance facial aesthetics, and improve quality of life.