If you have ever had a serious dental emergency, then you may have needed an oral maxillofacial surgeon. More than just a chipped tooth, a severe injury to your face can be an example of a serious dental emergency. If you ever need their services, then it is a good idea to understand what they do.
The oral and maxillofacial part of your body is your mouth and the areas around it. Oral maxillofacial surgery is generally needed to replace teeth due to an illness or injury, such as being punched in the mouth. Having oral maxillofacial surgery would fix the affected area.
Another reason for this type of surgery is if you have a disease in your mouth. A cyst or tumor could put your teeth in jeopardy, especially if there are cancerous cells present in the area. These reasons may lead to you needing your jaw partially reconstructed or removed.
There are also simpler reasons for having this kind of surgery. Your jaw’s hinge might not work correctly and having surgery on the temporomandibular joint could fix the issue. A misaligned jaw is another reason to see an oral maxillofacial surgeon.
This kind of surgeon does most of the surgeries that were mentioned above. Many times, these surgeons do emergency work for patients. For example, someone who was in a car accident might need to have immediate treatment.
Many types of illnesses in the neck, mouth, jaw, and face are treated by this type of surgeon. Tooth extraction is a common type of surgery for patients. For example, wisdom teeth are often removed through this type of surgery which will help to prevent future tooth problems.
Maxillofacial surgery can also help people who have cleft palates. An oral maxillofacial surgeon can alter the structure of the face and correct the issue.
This specialist must be able to treat both soft and hard tissues. The soft tissues are sensitive ones like the gums, while hard tissues include bones. The surgeon must be able to understand the complex parts of the face and neck and have a general knowledge about medicine, dentistry, and some types of surgery.
Ideally, you would schedule an appointment with the surgeon and have enough time to consider your options. However, in an emergency situation, this might not be the case and you may need to come in at the last minute, especially if you have had some type of dental trauma.
If you are considering oral or maxillofacial surgery, please contact New York Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery located in Brooklyn, New York, today.
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