Oman health: Understanding maxillofacial surgery

Maxillofacial surgery is a relatively new feature in dental implants, a new technology for replacing missing teeth.
It specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck, and the surgeon dealing with this requires dual qualification in medicine and dentistry. Often seen as the bridge between medicine and dentistry, Maxillofacial surgery treats conditions that require expertise from both the field which includes head and neck cancers, salivary gland diseases, facial disproportion, facial pain, impacted teeth, cysts, tumours of the jaws, and more.
A visit to a Maxillofacial surgeon becomes mandatory for dental implants, when facial cyst or tumour has been diagnosed, for jaw alignment, facial and jaw reconstruction following cancer surgery or for realignment of facial bones.
When we replace missing teeth with crowns and bridges, it becomes a problematic condition for patients over time. A dental implant is a titanium screw that replaces the root of the natural missing tooth while at the same time provides the crown and bridge support structure, leading to better stability and long life for the replaced tooth.
Dr Harshwardhan Jadia, Maxillofacial surgeon at Apollo Hospital Muscat, further explains about the minor surgical procedures related to oral and facial cysts and wisdom tooth surgery. “Typically not a cancerous growth, a cyst can develop around the face, mouth, under the mouth lining, within saliva glands and jawbones.
Suspicion of a cyst should be evaluated by a specialist to rule out oral cancer. In any case, facial and oral pathologies like cysts, tumours and cancers will be covered in our scope of trea? ment.
Depending on the diagnosis, the pathology will be reviewed and treatment suggested thereafter.” One of the most common procedures patients opt for when seeking dental care is the removal of the wisdom teeth, which owing to the lack of space can emerge at odd angles, get stuck or only partially emerge. “A wisdom tooth extraction is a fairly common surgical procedure and can be the remedy to an impacted tooth.
Once the tooth has been extracted, the space is occupied by the jawbone, providing relief to the patient, while strengthening the jaw bone area,” explains Dr Harshwardhan.
Sports players and athletes in Oman can also get their traumatic dental injuries treated.
Dr Harshwardhan adds “Trauma to the face or teeth can be caused by vehicular accidents, falls, sports injuries, and many more.
Dental trauma is common among the younger age-group and observed more frequently in men than women.
The management of such injuries depends on the type of injury involved, whether it is a baby or adult tooth, the location and severity of each injury.”
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To book an appointment with a Maxillofacial surgeon at Apollo Hospital or to make further enquiries, call + 968 9647 8181/ + 968 9640 8392.