What is maxillofacial surgery?

Maxillofacial surgery deals with diseases and traumas affecting the jaws (maxillae), face, mouth (stomatos in Greek) and teeth. This surgical specialty has its genesis in the two World Wars and the need to reconstruct “facially disfigured war veterans”.

Maxillofacial surgery covers:

• Reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the face and neck
• Facial trauma
• Surgery for cancers of the mouth, neck and salivary glands
• Craniofacial surgery (in case of congenital malformations or traumas)
• Orthognathic surgery (which corrects the alignment of teeth and jaws)
• Stomatology and oral surgery (treating, amongst others, jaw problems; implant surgery; bone grafts, etc.).

A maxillofacial surgeon diagnoses and treats diseases, injuries and abnormalities of the face, mouth, teeth and jaws. The range of procedures performed is extremely broad: correction of deviation of the jaw, treatment of sleep apnea, often related to a poorly positioned jaw or bruxism (grinding or clenching of teeth), cosmetic surgery procedures including rhinoplasties (repair or correction of a nose considered unsightly), management of facial fractures and malformations, bone grafts, treatment of cysts and tumors, etc.

When to see a maxillofacial surgeon

In most cases, a patient’s GP or specialist (paediatrician, ENT, dental surgeon, oncologist) will refer them to a maxillofacial surgeon.

How to choose a maxillofacial surgeon

In this discipline, surgeons are highly specialised and patients are advised to double check a particular surgeon’s skills and preferred branch. In addition to word of mouth, your GP, dentist or specialist consulted can provide useful advice.