Maxillofacial Surgery

What is maxillofacial surgery?

Maxillofacial surgery is a special type of dentistry. It’s similar to oral surgery. But in addition to treating conditions affecting your mouth, it also treats conditions affecting your jaw, face and neck.

Maxillofacial surgeries may include:

• Dental bone grafting.
• Cleft lip and cleft palate repair.
• Dental implants.
• Jaw (orthognathic) surgery.
• Jaw implants.
• Maxillectomy.
• Reconstructive facial surgery.
• Sleep apnea surgery.

If your dentist thinks you need maxillofacial surgery, they’ll refer you to a specialist for an evaluation.

What conditions are treated with maxillofacial surgery?

Maxillofacial surgeons can treat several conditions, including:

• Broken jaws.
• Chronic facial pain.
• Congenital (present at birth) facial abnormalities.
• Facial fractures (includes cheekbones, eye sockets and jaws).
• Head and neck cancers.
• Jaw cysts and tumors.
• Prognathism (a protrusion of one or both jaws).
• TMJ disorders.

What’s the difference between maxillofacial surgery and oral surgery?

Oral surgeons and maxillofacial surgeons have the same education and credentials. They also do some of the same procedures. For example, they both extract teeth, do bone grafts and place dental implants. But maxillofacial surgeons also do more complex procedures like reconstructive facial surgery.

Oral surgeons usually have private practices and work from outpatient surgery centers. Maxillofacial surgeons typically work in hospitals.

What happens during maxillofacial surgery?

It depends on your situation. Some procedures take a single visit. Others require a staged approach and multiple appointments.

Your healthcare provider will tell you what to expect. But here’s a general idea of what happens the day of your surgery:

1. A trusted friend or family member will drive you to the hospital.
2. A healthcare provider will give you general anesthesia so you can sleep through your procedure.
3. Once you’re asleep, your surgeon will make one or more incisions. The location of these incisions depends on the type of surgery you have.
4. Your surgeon will do the surgery using small, specialized instruments. They may also take dental X-rays during the procedure.
5. Once your procedure is over, your surgeon will close your incisions with stitches and cover the surgical site.

What happens after maxillofacial surgery?

After maxillofacial surgery, your healthcare team will move you to a recovery room. As the anesthesia wears off, you may have some discomfort. Your healthcare provider will prescribe medication to help.

Normal side effects include:

• Bleeding.
• Bruising.
• Swelling.

Your surgeon will talk to you about how the procedure went and tell you what to expect during recovery. When they clear you to go home, you’ll need someone you trust to drive you.

Your stitches will dissolve in about a week. Or your surgeon will remove them during your follow-up visit.

What are the potential benefits of maxillofacial surgery?

Benefits of maxillofacial surgery include:

• Pain relief. Misaligned jaws or teeth can cause symptoms like facial pain, headaches and toothaches. Maxillofacial surgery can correct these issues and get you out of pain.
• Better function. Jaw and facial conditions can interfere with biting, chewing and speaking. Maxillofacial surgery ensures that all structures work together harmoniously.
• Improved health. Conditions and injuries of your mouth or face can take a toll on your oral and overall health. Sometimes, surgery is the only way to get rid of infection and reduce your risk for further damage.
• Enhanced aesthetics. Maxillofacial surgery can address cosmetic concerns like crowded teeth or facial abnormalities.

What are the risks or complications of maxillofacial surgery?

Possible complications of maxillofacial surgery include:

• Excessive bleeding.
• Damage to your nerves.
• Dry socket.
• Infection.
• Injury to your bones or tissues.
• Numbness or changes in sensation in your mouth or face.
• Root fragment (a rare complication when a piece of tooth root breaks off and stays in its socket).

Your healthcare provider will check for these complications during your follow-up visits.

How long will it take for me to feel better?

Recovery after maxillofacial surgery depends on the type of procedure you have. You’ll likely have some discomfort, sensitivity, swelling and bleeding.

For extractions or dental implants, recovery may last around a week or two. More complex procedures, like jaw surgery, may require several months of healing. In these cases, you’ll be able to resume most normal activities, but you may have dietary restrictions. Your healthcare provider can let you know what to expect in your situation.

Is there anything I can do to make recovery easier on me?

Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions. Here are some general guidelines to follow in the meantime:

• Apply ice packs to reduce inflammation.
• Elevate your head.
• Get lots of rest.
• Take all medications as prescribed.

Until your healthcare provider tells you it’s OK, you should avoid:

• Foods that are crunchy, chewy or hard.
• Tobacco products and alcohol.
• Strenuous activity.
• Vigorous swishing or spitting.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

After maxillofacial surgery, seek medical attention if you develop:

• Fever or chills.
• Pus coming from your incisions.
• Salty, metallic or bad taste in your mouth.
• Severe pain that doesn’t go away with medication.
• Swelling that interferes with your breathing.