What is Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery?
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are specialists in the management of complex conditions of the mouth, face, head, neck and jaws.
They treat a wide range of conditions and perform a diverse range of procedures, including:
Removal of wisdom teeth and management of other impacted teeth
Salivary gland disease
Specialist registration as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in Australia requires the completion of both Dental and Medical Degrees, Medical Internship and Surgical Residency (2 years minimum) and selection on to an advanced, specialty-specific surgical training program (4 years). Surgical training is undertaken in tertiary-level hospitals, with a rigorous examination process required for completion. It is not uncommon for this pathway to take 15 years or more, many of which involve long hours and a large after-hours on-call commitment. In addition to the above, some surgeons may also undertake further fellowship training, either locally or overseas.
Surgeons qualified through this pathway in Australia are awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons - FRACDS(OMS), which is required in order to register as a specialist. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are unique in holding both Dental and Medical Specialist registration, and the FRACDS(OMS) is the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Dental Council.
When electing to undergo surgery, you should ensure that your Surgeon is appropriately trained, qualified and registered, to provide the highest level of care available. You can confirm if your surgeon is registered as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon here.
Further information on the specialty can also be found here.
Our Oral & Maxillofacial Procedures
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Wisdom Teeth Removal
Impacted wisdom teeth are commonly extracted, to prevent further problems such as pain, swelling or infection.
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Surgical Extraction of Teeth
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are highly skilled in surgical extraction of teeth, including wisdom teeth and other impacted teeth.
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Exposure of Teeth
The normal eruption of teeth can be disrupted due to inadequate space within the arch, obstruction from retained primary teeth (baby teeth), or due to other congenital conditions.
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Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium screw, placed into the jaw bone, to replace the root of a natural tooth and form the sub-structure to which a crown can be attached.
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Zygomatic Implants
A zygomatic implant is a special type of dental implant, which is placed in the top jaw and anchored into the cheek bone.
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Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts
Bone grafting and Sinus lifts are procedures undertaken to increase the available bone for placement of dental implants.
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Orthognathic & Corrective Jaw Surgery
Orthognathic (meaning “straight jaws”) surgery is undertaken to re-position the jaws in order to achieve a better bite & optimise the airway, or to improve facial symmetry & profile.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when there are repeated episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep and can lead to a range of health issues.
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Facial Trauma
Facial injuries, both soft and hard tissue, require expert management due to the potential aesthetic and functional problems if not treated correctly.
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TMJ Disorders
Temporo-mandibular dysfunction (TMD) occurs when you experience pain, clicking or locking of one or both joints, or pain of the surrounding structures and muscles that move the jaw.
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Oral Pathology
Oral Pathology refers to any abnormality that affects the structures of the mouth, jaws and surrounding tissues.
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Skin Cancer Surgery
Skin lesions of the head, neck and face may require removal for a variety of reasons. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer globally, and surgical excision is a mainstay of treatment.