Often considered the bridge between medicine and dentistry, maxillofacial and oral surgery is the surgical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, surgery and treatment of diseases, and defects or injuries affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. Maxillofacial and oral surgeons are responsible for treating the entire craniomaxillofacial complex or the anatomical part of the skull, face, mouth, jaws, sinuses, and other associated parts.
Lake County Oral Surgery is the go-to place for those with problems that need to be corrected with maxillofacial and oral surgery. If you have a deformity in the oral maxillofacial region that’s a result of a birth defect or accident, we can help restore your look and oral health. Before undergoing surgery at our office or any other oral surgeon’s office in Central Florida, it is important that you are conversant with some important aspects about oral and maxillofacial surgery. The following are the questions that should be addressed beforehand:
Do I Need A Board Certified Maxillofacial And Oral Surgeon?
You can go to dentist when having minor oral problems, but when your problem requires surgery, the best professional to go to is a maxillofacial or oral surgeon. One way of knowing whether the professional you are dealing with is qualified for the procedure is to check whether they are board certified. A good maxillofacial or oral surgeon must be certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS).
At Lake County Oral Surgery, our maxillofacial and oral surgeons are board-certified by ABOMS. The board certification is proof that they have attained the highest standards in the professional after having undergone years of dental school, residency, board examination and continuing education.
What problems can be corrected through maxillofacial and oral surgery?
At Lake County Oral Surgery, we address different problems using maxillofacial or oral surgery, including:
- Impacted wisdom teeth: If your wisdom teeth (or those of your child) have formed in positions that impede their growth or make it hard for you to bite, the best option is tooth extraction to remove the impacted wisdom tooth. This is a procedure that our maxillofacial and oral surgeon performs effectively and relatively painlessly.
- Cleft lip: Surgeons that specialize in maxillofacial surgery are also adequately skilled to perform palate surgery. The procedure entails the rectification of deformities in facial structure originating from a birth defect.
- Severe orthodontic problems: For those with severe orthodontic problems such as skeletal defects resulting from congenital abnormalities, orthodontics may not be an option. They may require corrective jaw surgery, which involves reshaping and repositioning misaligned jaws and teeth. This is a procedure that can be effectively performed by maxillofacial and oral surgeons.
- Deformed jaws: Oral surgery is a treatment option for deformed jaws. Depending on the severity of the problem, bone grafting can be done to repair deformed jaws and to enable dental implants to be fastened into the bone.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Maxillofacial and oral surgery can be done to correct misaligned jaws. The procedure aims at relieving disruptive breathing during sleep. Once performed, a patient no longer experiences shortness of breath or restlessness during sleep.
- Bone, muscle, cartilage and skin defects: Those with such defects can undergo cosmetic facial surgery, a procedure that involves facial reconstruction techniques to deliver the desired look or facial function.
After a correct diagnosis is made, our board-certified maxillofacial and oral surgeons usually take their time advice our patients before performing surgery. So, during your consultation, you will be advised about the surgical procedures that are right for you based on your particular condition.
Do consultation and treatment take place on the same day?
It depends on the severity of the problem. For minor problems such as tooth extraction, you can be examined and treated on the same day. For serious problems like misaligned jaws, however, you will be examined first, and the surgical procedure will be scheduled for another day.
What is required of me before undergoing maxillofacial or oral surgery?
It is important that you know whether there are any preparations that you need to make prior to the surgery. For instance, you should be informed of the kinds of drinks and foods you should avoid and for how long before your surgery. This will enable you to plan well in advance so that you can be adequately prepared and ready for the surgery.
Will anesthesia be used?
If you are like most people, you obviously want the whole experience to be as painless as possible. Therefore, you should ask whether anesthesia will be used for sedation purposes. Just like with many types of surgeries, general anesthesia is usually administered during oral surgery. This is done to reduce anxiety, alleviate pain and limit movement. Anesthesia is administered during various procedures such as dental implant placement, jaw fracture repairs, teeth extractions, and facial cosmetic surgeries.
Our anesthetists are qualified and certified to administer all forms of sedation during surgery. Before the administrations, patients are usually assessed thoroughly to ensure that a suitable anesthesia level is chosen. This ensures a comfortable, safe and pain-free experience for our patients.
How long does a maxillofacial or oral surgery last?
This depends on the procedure done. Our maxillofacial and oral surgeons usually give patients an approximate idea of how long the procedure will take. It is important for you to know how long the procedure you are scheduled to under will take in order for you to make the appropriate arrangements. For instance, knowing how long the procedure will take will enable you plan on when you should be picked after the surgery.
How long does it take to recover after undergoing maxillofacial surgery?
It depends on the type of procedure done. For minor oral surgery, it is possible for you to return to your normal routine after three or four days of rest. With complex surgical procedures, however, it might take longer before you can resume your normal routine. It’s important to know the amount of time you may need to recover so you can make proper arrangements. For instance, you may consider taking time off work or upcoming events.
Are there any associated risks or complications that I should know about?
As with any surgical procedure, there is always a probability of complications. Be sure to ask your surgeon whether there are any risks or complications that can arise from the surgical procedure you are about to undergo. Our surgeons usually inform patients about any risks or complications that can arise before performing any procedure. This not only eases the patients’ anxiety, but it also enables them to find ways of preventing complications and coping with them in case they arise.
How much do dental implants cost?
The total cost of oral implants varies depending on a number of factors. One of them is whether the payment is out of pocket or from insurance coverage. The cost of oral implants also varies depending on the geographical location and the surgeon performing the surgical procedure. A conventional cost approximation for a single dental implant is about $3,000 to $5,000. This cost includes the procedure for placement of a dental implant, all the components, and the implant crown.
Do you have other questions regarding maxillofacial and oral surgery? Please contact us at our Clermont office at (352) 242 -0627, or our Leesburg office at (352) 728-6600 to set up a consultation.