Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS or OMS) is the speciality of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic perspectives of the soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacial area.

Often seen as the bond between dentistry and medicine. Oral and maxillofacial surgery also concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck. Modern surgery has advanced to such an extent that the technical skills and knowledge needed, have made surgeons specialising in their respective areas capable of dealing with complex issues. Usually an anatomical area of the body or occasionally in a particular type of patient.

A range of oral and maxillofacial surgical operations are performed on a patient under conscious sedation or local anaesthesia. These comprise of removal of impacted teeth, pre-implant surgery placement of dental/facial implants, intra-oral and facial soft tissue procedures. More major operations are, for example, those for salivary gland disease, trauma, facial deformity or cancer, are carried out on an inpatient basis under general anaesthetic.