Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
                     Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases,
injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissues
of  the  oral  and  maxillofacial  region.  It  is  a  recognized  international  surgical
specialty,  and it  is  one of  the nine specialties  of  dentistry  recognized by the
American Dental Association.
ORAL SURGEONS: CHANGING LIVES WITH A 
SMILE
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only recognized dental specialists who,
after  completing  dental  school,  are  surgically  trained  in  an  American  Dental
Association-accredited hospital-based residency program for a minimum of four
years.  They  train  alongside  medical  residents  in  internal  medicine,  general
surgery and anesthesiology, and also spend time in otolaryngology (ear, nose,
and  throat),  plastic  surgery,  emergency  medicine,  and  other  specialty  areas.
Their training focuses almost exclusively on the hard and soft tissue of the face,
mouth,  and jaws, and their  knowledge and surgical  expertise uniquely  qualify
them to diagnose and treat the functional and aesthetic conditions in this part of
the body.
CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS
Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon has many years of education and hands-on
training to provide treatment for a wide range of conditions.
CORRECTIVE JAW SURGERY
● Corrective jaw or orthognathic surgery is performed in which the upper
jaw, lower jaw, and chin may be repositioned to correct minor and 
major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of 
jaws and teeth which can improve chewing, speaking, and breathing. 
Difficulty chewing or biting food, excessive wear of teeth, a receding 
chin, a protruding jaw, or sleep apnea may indicate the need for 
corrective jaw surgery.
WISDOM TEETH
● Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes they 
emerge from the gum line, and the jaw is large enough to allow room 
for them, but more often than not, they fail to emerge and become 
impacted. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be 
removed. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted 
tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, 
recurring infections, and even gum disease. The American 
Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons strongly recommends 
that wisdom teeth be removed by the time the patient is a young adult 
in order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing.
CLEFT PALATE
● Cleft lip and cleft palate result when all or portions of the mouth and 
nasal cavity do not grow together properly during fetal development. 
The result is a gap in the lip or a split in the opening in the roof of the 
mouth. Until it is treated with surgery, a cleft palate can cause 
problems with feeding, speech, and hearing. Oral and maxillofacial 
surgeons work as part of a team of health care specialists to correct 
these problems through a series of treatments and surgical 
procedures over many years.
FACIAL TRAUMA
● Maxillofacial injuries or facial trauma encompass any injury to the 
mouth, face, and jaw. One of the most common types of serious injury
to the face occurs when bones are broken. Fractures can involve the 
lower jaw, upper jaw, palate, cheekbones, eye sockets, or 
combinations of these bones. These injuries can affect sight and the 
ability to breathe, speak, and swallow. Because of this, the expertise 
of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon is indispensable. Avoiding injury 
is always best, so it is extremely important to use seat belts, protective
mouthguards, and appropriate masks and helmets for everyone who 
participates in athletic pursuits at any level.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT SURGERY
● The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small joint located in front of 
the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet and allows the lower jaw 
to move and function. If you experience jaw pain, earaches, 
headaches, a limited ability to open or close your mouth, clicking, or 
grating sounds, you may have Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). 
TMJ treatment may range from conservative dental and medical care 
to complex surgery. If non-surgical treatment is unsuccessful or if 
there is clear joint damage, surgery may be indicated which can 
involve either arthroscopy or repair of damaged tissue by a direct 
surgical approach.
ORAL CANCER
● Oral and maxillofacial surgeons recommend that everyone perform an
oral cancer self-exam each month. If you notice white or red patches, 
an abnormal lump, chronic sore throat or hoarseness, or difficulty 
chewing or swallowing, you should contact your oral and maxillofacial 
surgeon. They will remove a section of tissue to perform a biopsy and 
accurately diagnose the problem.
IMPLANTS
● Dental implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth that 
your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. 
Composed of titanium metal that fuses with the jawbone through a 
process called osseointegration, dental implants never slip and never 
decay. Because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is 
generally not a problem.
OUTPATIENT ANESTHESIA
● Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the ability to provide patients 
with safe, effective outpatient anesthesia including local anesthesia, 
nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. During their 
surgical residency, residents must complete a rotation on the medical 
anesthesiology service where they become competent in evaluating 
patients for anesthesia, delivering the anesthetic, and monitoring post-
anesthetic patients.
 
(779) 234-0824  15041 S Van 
Dyke Rd # 105
Plainfield, IL 60544  Mon to Thu
8:00am to 6:00pm Fri
9:00am to 1:00pm