Patient/clinical information

What is oral and maxillofacial surgery?

Credentialing board certification

Types of procedures

Office locations

Hospital locations

What is oral and maxillofacial surgery?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

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Credentialing board certification

The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surery is recognized by the American Dental Association as the specialty board for oral and maxillofacial surgery. In order to become board certified, a surgeon must complete an intensive application and examination process. All applications for board certification are reviewed by the Board's credentials committee.

Types of procedures

• Cosmetic maxillofacial surgery
• Corrective jaw surgery
• Anesthesia
• Dental implants
• The TMJ
• Facial cancer
• Wisdom teeth
• Facial injuries
• Bone grafting/distraction osteogenesis

Please visit the AAOMS web site patient information pamphlets (You will need Adobe Reader or another suitable PDF file reader).

The AAOMS also has a great general patient information page on oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Cosmetic maxillofacial surgery
Cosmetic (aesthetic) surgery is used to repair physical malformations resulting from disease, injury, burns, birth defects, or aging. It may also serve to restore normal function and improve individual appearance. Cosmetic surgery can be performed using a variety of techniques, and several different procedures are available to correct specific conditions.

Because of their surgical and dental background, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely qualified in the treatment of face, mouth, and jaws. Extensive education and training in surgical procedures involving both the soft tissue (skin and muscle) and hard tissue (bone and cartilage) of the maxillofacial area make the oral and maxillofacial surgeon finely attuned to the importance of harmony between facial appearance and function.

• Facelift (rhytidectomy) The natural aging process, genetic influences, exposure to sun and other factors cause the skin to wrinkle and sag as it fits the body more loosely. A rhytidectomy, or facelift, can give a more youthful appearance by tightening facial skin and muscles and removing excess skin.
  
  
• Nasal reconstruction (rhinoplasty) Those displeased with the size and/or shape of their nose can improve their appearance through nasal reconstruction (rhinoplasty). During rhinoplasty, corrections are made by removing, rearranging, or reshaping bone or cartilage.
  
  
• Cosmetic surgery of the eyes (blepharoplasty, forehead/brow lift) Blepharoplasty can correct sagging eyelids, pouches beneath the eyes and excess folds around the eyes. Brow and forehead lifts raise eyebrows and reduce ridges and furrows on the forehead, creating a smoother, younger appearance.
  
  
• Treatment of facial scarring (dermabrasion)
  
  
• Facial liposuction
  
  
• Ear surgery (otoplasty)

Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery
Loma Linda University School of Dentistry

(909) 558-4671

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