Patient Information

What is oral and maxillofacial surgery?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a recognized specialty of the dental profession dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of both the functional and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, face, and related structures. Our practice includes a broad range of surgical services. This includes the extraction of teeth, treatment of impacted teeth, placement of dental implants, treatment of cysts, tumors and other pathologies of the mouth, jaws and related facial structures, treatment of oral and facial infections, the correction of jaw deformities (orthognathic surgery), treatment of facial trauma, diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, and facial and cosmetic surgery.

Our surgical procedures are accompanied by a variety of anesthesia techniques ranging from general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas), and local anesthesia.

What is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dentists specializing in surgery of the mouth, face and jaws. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon must first graduate from an accredited dental school and then must complete additional post doctorate training in an accredited, hospital-based oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program. After four years of dental school, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon will receive four to seven years of hospital-based surgical and medical training, preparing him to perform a wide range of surgical procedures.

What does maxillofacial mean? Maxillofacial refers to the face and jaws. Thus, oral and maxillofacial surgery includes the areas of the mouth, face and jaws…areas that would require the expertise of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Where will my surgery take place? Most of our surgery is performed in the office. Some of our more complicated surgeries are performed in the hospital either as an outpatient or inpatient procedure. We operate at various hospitals.