What is oral and maxillofacial surgery?
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat disease, injuries and defects of the mouth and surrounding areas. This includes the jaw, face and neck.
What do oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat?
You may seek care from an oral surgeon for many reasons, from routine wisdom tooth extraction to more complex facial reconstruction. Common conditions treated by oral surgeons include:
- Impacted wisdom teeth: When wisdom teeth (or third molars) fail to grow in properly, they can become impacted in the gums or bone. Removing impacted teeth relieves pain and reduces the risk of infection.
- Tooth and bone loss: Oral surgeons place dental implants in the jawbone as permanent replacements. A bone graft to place new bone may be necessary if there is not enough bone to securely hold the implant.
- Facial trauma or injury: Oral surgeons reset fractured or dislocated jaws, and treat lacerations on the face or in the mouth.
- TMJ disorders: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge connecting your jaw and skull. Abnormalities in this joint that cause pain can often be treated surgically.
- Abnormal growths: Surgery may be used to remove neoplasms on the skin, salivary glands, lips, mouth, tongue, jaw and face.
- Misalignment: Orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, realigns the jaws and teeth to treat overbites and underbites.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery at Guthrie
Guthrie has invested in a cutting-edge surgical system called X-Guide® that uses 3D images to give our surgeon a complete view of your mouth, for more precise dental implants. This minimally invasive procedure means smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery for most patients.
New patients are welcome. Referrals are required. Call 570-887-2418 to schedule an appointment.