Orthodontic surgeons focus on correcting dental and facial issues through surgical means. It’s a branch of medicine that’s well regarded throughout the world. Cleft palates, issues with wisdom teeth, facial traumas, ■■■■ cancer, tumors, and jaw cysts can all fall into this category.
What Does Their Education Look Like?
A bachelor’s degree and four years of dentistry school are prerequisites for both ■■■■ surgeons and orthodontists. When they graduate, they go on to specialize through a residency program.
■■■■ Surgeons
■■■■ surgeons spend their whole four-year residency learning every nuance of the face, mouth, and jaws, from the skin to the bones to the muscles.
The residents in this program get training in otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and emergency medicine (collectively called otolaryngology). This is a 4-year residency program that has been hand-picked and is recognized by the American Dental Association.
Orthodontists
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed further training in straightening teeth. It’s not just about making people happy, though that’s a bonus. Orthodontists specialize in correcting malocclusions of the teeth and jaws, which can cause difficulties with eating, speaking, and speaking clearly.
Regarding correcting misalignment of teeth, orthodontists are the go-to professionals since they use non-invasive methods. We use orthodontic tools like braces and clear aligners to gently exert pressure on a patient’s teeth. Using these measures, doctors can shift your jaw and teeth into place without risk.
Note: ■■■■ surgeons are also called maxillofacial surgeons. These medical professionals are experts in cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery, as well as head and neck, ■■■■, and jaw surgery.
The Orthodontist vs. the ■■■■ Surgeon
Most individuals with jaw and face abnormalities require ■■■■ surgery and orthodontic therapy.
■■■■ surgeons and orthodontic specialists collaborate when corrective jaw surgery is required. Every person is unique, and so are their requirements for achieving a picture-perfect grin via dental care.
If you want the finest outcomes from your orthodontic treatment, you should always follow your orthodontist’s advice.
What Is Orthognathic Surgery?
Some individuals refer to orthognathic surgery, or corrective jaw surgery, as just jaw surgery. Procedures of this kind are performed to repair structural, growth, and breathing problems in the jaw and lower face.
Sleep apnea, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and malocclusion are all examples of such conditions. When orthodontic treatment is ineffective for a patient’s bite condition, jaw surgery may be necessary.
A patient may also need orthognathic surgery to correct various facial abnormalities, disharmonies, and asymmetries. The patient’s facial appearance and confidence may both benefit from these adjustments.
Will You Need ■■■■ Surgery?
No of the nature of your dental issue, an appointment with your orthodontist is usually the best first step. It is the nature of ■■■■ surgery to be intrusive. Orthodontists are more likely to suggest less invasive procedures for fixing common dental problems, so you can get the same results without putting in as much work.
The orthodontist you see will have your welfare at heart. If ■■■■ surgery is required, you will be sent to a specialist. Asking your family dentist for guidance is also a good idea. Your general dentist is familiar with your whole dental history and will be able to tailor treatment to your unique requirements.
Do not delay seeing a general dentist if you have been experiencing dental discomfort. Before committing to an interdisciplinary team and undergoing invasive surgery, you may wish to see a dentist like our friends at Maidu Dental.
Summary
Getting to ■■■■ surgery isn’t a quick process. The group will need time to be ready and gather more data. A cursory inspection of your mouth isn’t going to be sufficient. The use of high-tech imaging methods like x-rays may be imminent. Let’s look at several situations that call for ■■■■ surgery without question.
Maxillofacial and ■■■■ surgery
■■■■ and maxillofacial surgery is a subspecialty of general surgery that deals with issues like cleft lip and palate repair and other facial aesthetic and plastic surgery procedures.
The United Kingdom and many of Europe recognize it as a medical specialty, requiring both a medical degree and a dental degree for entry.
Skin cancer, facial deformity, cleft lip and palate, craniofacial surgery, TMJ surgery, and cosmetic facial surgery are all within the practice area, as are head and neck cancer, microvascular repair, craniofacial surgery, and craniomaxillofacial trauma.
Maxillofacial surgery is a sub-specialty in the United Kingdom accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The JCIE is responsible for granting Intercollegiate Board Certification in the field, which is on par with certification in Plastic Surgery, ENT, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Paediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Cardiothoracic Surgery. To practice as a Consultant Surgeon in Maxillofacial Surgery, one must have passed the FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons), the final exam in surgical training.
Surgery of the ■■■■ cavity, dental implant surgery, dentoalveolar surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, general surgery, reconstructive surgery of the face, head and neck, mouth, and jaws, facial cosmetic surgery, facial deformity, craniofacial surgery, facial skin cancer, head and neck cancer, microsurgery free flap resection and reconstruction, and microsurgical free flap resection and reconstruction. ■■■■ and maxillofacial surgery residents often take up the role of Chief Resident in their final year, which is a standard practice among surgical experts.
Summary
■■■■ and maxillofacial surgery is a dentistry subspecialty that has achieved full surgical recognition in the United States. While a medical degree isn’t necessary for a dental practice, it’s possible during residency. Compared to other types of surgery, ■■■■ and maxillofacial surgery are in a class by themselves.
Is ■■■■ Surgery Dangerous?
■■■■ surgery, like any other type of surgery, is dangerous. Nerve damage can occur during even the most routine dental extraction procedure.
Facial nerve injury, which results in numbness or insensitivity, is a severe complication. But this happens so rarely that it hardly ever merits mentioning.
Pain, bleeding, swelling, and maybe infection are all normal responses to ■■■■ surgery. These negative effects often don’t last long and are simple to remedy. Dental surgeons commonly prescribe antibiotics to combat and prevent infections.
FAQs
1 - Who needs surgical orthodontics?
Surgical orthodontics may be required when the upper and lower jaws (which house the teeth) are misaligned. Therefore, it is difficult to bite, eat, or talk because the upper and lower teeth do not align properly. To ensure that your jaws and teeth are in the most healthy and functional position, your orthodontist will collaborate with an ■■■■ and maxillofacial surgeon.
2 - Why is surgical orthodontics necessary?
Surgery is required to alter the size or shape of an adult’s jaw bones.
3 - What causes the need for surgery?
Sometimes the cause is hereditary; if your upper and lower jaws didn’t develop in tandem when you were young, it might be difficult to bite, eat, or talk because your upper and lower teeth won’t line up properly. Birth abnormalities, jaw traumas, and environmental factors are other potential culprits.
4 - Should orthodontic therapy or surgery be performed first?
In most cases, non-surgical orthodontic therapy is attempted first. This procedure is performed before dental surgery to ensure proper tooth alignment. After ■■■■ surgery, patients often require more time in orthodontic therapy to achieve their ideal tooth placements.
5 - Is surgical orthodontics only necessary for jaws that are misaligned?
Adults who have a serious issue with the placement of their teeth and jaws that cannot be rectified by orthodontic treatment alone may benefit from surgical orthodontics. Those who have suffered trauma to their jaws, such as an accident or a congenital abnormality, may require surgical orthodontics.
6 - Are only grownups given surgical braces?
Patients who have completed their development period are good candidates for surgical orthodontics to treat jaw and tooth misalignment caused by a growth disorder.
7 - Can teeth and jaws be straightened with surgery alone?
Surgery alone is exceedingly unlikely to fix both tooth and jaw misalignment. Having your teeth and jaws properly aligned requires orthodontic care.
8 - Who does the operation—the orthodontist or the ■■■■ surgeon?
In collaboration with your orthodontist, an ■■■■ and maxillofacial surgeon will ■■■■■■■ the surgical procedure. The two doctors will collaborate on a treatment plan for you.
9 - Can an orthodontist do orthognathic surgery?
The results of orthognathic surgery can be life-altering for patients who have suffered from significant cosmetic and functional abnormalities. It is possible to break down an orthodontist’s involvement in orthognathic surgery into four distinct phases: presurgical orthodontics, surgical planning, postsurgical orthodontics, and first assessment.
Conclusion
To become an ■■■■ Surgeon, one must complete four years of full-time dentistry school. During this time, they will learn about the anatomy of the head and neck, dental anatomy, radiography, trauma, dental diseases, and dental health. Attending a residency program dedicated to ■■■■ and maxillofacial surgery is the next logical step in our pursuit of excellence in this field.
■■■■ surgeons get specialized instruction about the teeth, gums, jaw, and associated bone and tissue. Trauma, pathology, reconstruction, implants, extractions, and intravenous sedation are topics covered in our extensive training. During an ■■■■ and Maxillofacial Residency, students learn everything there is to know about doing any kind of surgery on the face, jaw, or neck.