Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS or OMFS)
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS or OMFS) at Southern Indiana Surgery Center (SISC) is a dental specialty that encompasses the treatment of conditions and injuries affecting the head, face, neck, jaws, and mouth. The oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Southern Indiana Surgery Center often work closely with dentists and orthodontists who refer patients in need of complex oral surgeries or those requiring deeper levels of sedation or general anesthesia.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at Southern Indiana Surgery Center
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon first earns a dental degree, then goes on to obtain medical training alongside internists, anesthesiologists, general and plastic surgeons, and ER physicians. Many continue on to earn medical degrees, as well. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons spend five months in intensive training in general anesthesia and another month training in pediatric anesthesia, making them the only healthcare specialists other than anesthesiologists who are qualified to administer all sedation levels including general anesthesia.
Oral and Maxillofacial Procedures
Tooth extractions/wisdom tooth removal: Sedation dentistry is often utilized for tooth extractions, particularly wisdom teeth that are impacted. Even with no symptoms, early removal by an oral surgeon is recommended to avoid complications involving the surrounding teeth.
Dental implants: Restorative dentistry through dental implants involves a surgical procedure to replace missing teeth. Because of highly advanced implant technology utilized by SISC oral and maxillofacial surgeons, dental implant surgery can be performed in less time (such as All-On-4) and/or fewer procedures than ever before. Dental implants are placed into the patient’s jaw bone, and they look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Several implant procedures are available depending on the number of teeth being replaced. Dental implants help preserve facial contours and the jaw bone, as well as greatly improve eating ability.
Corrective jaw surgery (also called orthognathic surgery): A misaligned jaw may require corrective surgery to treat severe orthodontic conditions, congenital abnormalities, or skeletal problems. Bones in the jaw and/or face may be repositioned or reshaped to realign the teeth and jaws to allow them to function properly.
Dental bone grafting: Sometimes the quality or quantity of jaw bone is insufficient to place implants. In these cases, your oral surgeon will perform a bone graft to create an area suitable for implants. Several types of dental bone grafting are offered at SISC.
Dental bone grafting: Sometimes the quality or quantity of jaw bone is insufficient to place implants. In these cases, your oral surgeon will perform a bone graft to create an area suitable for implants. Several types of dental bone grafting are offered by oral surgeons at SISC.
Cleft lip/palate surgery: Surgery to correct facial structure anomalies is performed by the SISC oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Cleft lip and/or palate surgery is not only performed for aesthetic purposes, but also to help with speech and eating problems.
Exposure and bracketing: Impacted teeth that are more critical to the dental arch than wisdom teeth (such as the maxillary cuspids) may require oral surgery to aid in eruption. Rather than extracting an important tooth, your surgeon can lift the gum to expose the impacted tooth then attach an orthodontic bracket to guide the tooth into proper position.
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) surgery: In cases of TMJ disorder that are unresponsive to conservative treatments, surgery may be necessary. Typically, surgery is only required in cases in which the jaw will not open, is dislocated, or has severe degeneration.
Facial trauma surgery: The oral and maxillofacial surgeons at SISC are uniquely skilled and trained to manage and treat all manners of facial trauma. Facial injuries can range from avulsed (knocked out) teeth to severe damage to the skin or bones of the face. Our surgeons are highly qualified to treat soft and hard tissue injuries such as lacerations and fractures involving the jaw, cheeks, skull, nose, or eye socket. Injuries to surrounding dental structures often accompany facial trauma and can be treated by our oral and maxillofacial surgeons, as well.
Sleep apnea surgery: If initial treatments to limit throat obstruction are unsuccessful and sleep apnea is severe, surgical options may be explored. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUPP) are procedures which involve rearrangement or removal of excess throat tissue (palate, uvula, and walls of the throat) to decrease tissue collapse and open the airway. Orthognathic surgery may also be an option for sleep apnea patients if jaw position is a contributor.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons may also be utilized for facial biopsies, removal of facial lesions or complex tumors, oral cancer treatment, and reconstructive surgeries. At SISC, our surgeons understand the emotional aspect often involved with oral and maxillofacial surgeries and are committed to providing individualized, high-quality care to all our patients.
Disclaimer: These pages are not intended to provide medical or surgical advice or physician instruction on medical care or treatment. If you are a patient, consult with your doctor about treatment options that may be appropriate for your medical condition.