includes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck. An OMF surgeon requires dual qualification in both dentistry and medicine and treats conditions that require expertise from both backgrounds. Some issues that may require OMF surgery include facial pain, facial disproportion, impacted teeth, temporomandibular joint disorders, cysts, tumors, head and neck cancers, and more. Many OMF surgeons develop a specialty in one of these areas.

Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery

An oral-maxillofacial surgeon can be thought of as an orthopedic surgeon for the face head, and neck region. They diagnose and treat injuries and defects that affect the function and esthetics of hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. They address a myriad of issues including the removal of impacted teeth to the repair of facial trauma. Other issues include:

• Implants
• Outpatient oral surgical procedures
• Diagnosis and removal of a jaw, oral, or facial cyst or tumor
• Jaw realignment via orthognathic surgery
• TMJ surgery
• Facial and jaw reconstruction following cancer surgery
• Realignment of facial bones after facial trauma
• Esthetic surgery consultations
• Tooth extractions
• The diagnosis and reparation of salivary gland diseases
• The diagnosis and reparation of problems affecting the oral mucosa
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Oral infections

Maxillofacial Prosthetics

When undergoing a maxillofacial surgical procedure, prostheses are often required to replace missing or removed areas of tissue or bone, and to restore oral functions such as speech, chewing, and swallowing. In other instances, including disabilities or defects that were present when born or that developed due to disease or trauma. a prosthesis for the face, head, or neck area may be required for cosmetic and psychosocial reasons.