Facial Trauma Reconstruction | Impacted Canines | Oral Pathology | Orthognathic Surgery | Sleep Apnea | Wisdom Teeth Extractions | Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) Procedure | SonicWeld Rx

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is a surgical specialty that involves both dental and medical surgical treatments. It diagnoses and treats diseases, deformities, injuries and cosmetic defects of the facial and oral region. This is one of nine dental specialties recognized internationally and by the American Dental Association.

An oral maxillofacial surgeon can diagnose and treat a wide variety conditions (such as those detailed below). Whether your oral surgeon refers you to our office, you have pain or symptoms causing you concern, or you simply have questions you would like answered, please contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are here to answer your questions and provide the treatment you deserve!

If you’re interested in learning more about oral and maxillofacial surgeons and procedures, we encourage you to visit https://myoms.org/ for more information.

Facial Trauma Reconstruction

Aside from the obvious aesthetic reasons for repairing damage to the face, there are also a number of serious health and dental concerns that can arise from even a small amount of trauma. No facial injury should be taken lightly. Depending on the exact location of the injury, respiration, speech and swallowing can be greatly impaired.

There are three main classifications used by health professionals in their trauma assessment:

• Soft Tissue Injuries – Soft tissue trauma includes lacerations to the skin and any kind of intraoral (gum) damage.
• Avulsed (Knocked Out) Teeth - Injuries to the teeth are very common and must be dealt with immediately to insure success of re-implantation.
• Bony Injuries – This category encompasses the entire face including fractured cheekbones, jawbones, etc.

Your oral surgeon will conduct a thorough examination and take various x-rays in order to determine the precise condition of the afflicted area and plan a course of action.

Impacted Canines

An impacted tooth essentially means that it is blocked, stuck, or unable to fully erupt and function properly. Third molars (wisdom teeth) most commonly fall victim to impaction, but the upper canine is the second most common tooth to become impacted. There are several main causes for impacted canine teeth:

• Extra Teeth – The eruption progress of the canine may be directly blocked by an extra tooth, or the subsequent overcrowding might leave no room on the dental arch for the canine.
• Overcrowding – In some cases, poor alignment of the front teeth can lead to overcrowding. The existing teeth compete for space, which means that the canines do not have sufficient room to become functional.

Oral Pathology

The soft tissue of the mouth is normally lined with mucosa, which is special type of skin that should appear smooth in texture and pink in color. Any alteration of the color or texture of the mucosa may signal the beginning of a pathologic process. These changes may occur on the face, neck, and areas of the mouth (e.g., gums, tongue, lips, etc.). The most serious of these pathologic changes (which may or may not be painful) is oral cancer, but there are also many other common pathologic problems.

Since it is impossible for the oral surgeon to decisively diagnose a pathological disease without taking a biopsy sample of the affected area, seeking immediate treatment when changes are first noticed might be a life and death decision. Screening is painless and only takes a few minutes.

Orthognathic Surgery

Corrective jaw surgery — known as orthognathic surgery — refers to the surgical correction needed to fix substantial abnormalities of the maxilla (upper jaw), the mandible (lower jaw), or both. This surgery is generally performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to correct malocclusion (bad bite) in cases where routine orthodontic treatment has not or will not be effective. Misalignment can seriously damage the function and aesthetic appearance of the teeth in many ways if left untreated.

This is a surgery that is designed to correct conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders and malocclusion due to skeletal dysfunction. Orthognathic surgery involves moving the jaws. This is a hospital based procedure which will require the use of general anesthesia and will be performed by the oral maxillofacial surgeon.

Orthognathic surgery typically requires a general anesthesia and a good deal of aftercare.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. Common signs of obstructive sleep apnea can include severe early morning headaches, sleepiness in the daytime, and insomnia. Because sleep apnea causes carbon dioxide levels to skyrocket in the blood and oxygen levels to decrease, the heart has to pump harder and faster to compensate for the lack of oxygen. Sleep apnea has been linked to a series of serious heart-related conditions, and should be investigated by the oral surgeon at the earliest opportunity.

Fortunately, the oral surgeon is equipped with the necessary technology and expertise to treat sleep apnea in several different ways. The oral surgeon needs to consult with the ENT and pulmonary physicians to make a diagnosis of each individual case before recommending the best course of action.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth extractions are most often performed because of an active problem such as pain, swelling, decay, infection, or as a preventative measure to avoid serious problems in the future. If impaction of one or more wisdom teeth is present, and left untreated, a number of potentially harmful outcomes can occur, including:

• Damage to Nearby Teeth – Second molars (the teeth directly in front of the wisdom teeth) can be adversely affected by impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in tooth decay (cavities), periodontal disease (gum disease), and possible bone loss.
• Disease – Although uncommon, cysts and tumors can occur in the areas surrounding impacted wisdom teeth.
• Infection – Bacteria and food can become trapped under the gum tissue, resulting in an infection. The infection can cause considerable pain and danger.
• Tooth Crowding – It has been theorized that impacted wisdom teeth can put pressure on other teeth and cause them to become misaligned (crowded or twisted).

Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) Procedure

This innovative procedure uses a small quantity of the patient’s own blood to produce a gelled membrane byproduct that contains healing and growth factors scientifically proven to enhance your body’s regenerative systems and healing ability. It’s a safe, convenient, and cost-effective healing tool. Clinical applications include:

• Socket bone grafting
• Dental implants
• Bone defect repairs (i.e., after infection, tooth removal, and cyst or tumor removal)
• Repairs to openings between mouth and sinus cavity
• Oral mucosa coverage after lesion removal

SonicWeld Rx

SonicWeld Rx is a bone reconstruction technology that works without the need for removal or placement of other meshwork or metal. It is used in a wide variety of maxillofacial applications, including:

• Facial trauma
• Socket bone grafting
• Bony ridge reconstruction after tooth loss
• Preparation of the future implant sites