Maxillofacial surgeon

A maxillofacial surgeon is a doctor whose job is to examine and treat diseases of the jaws and face. Let's look at what diseases the doctor treats, diagnostic methods, and health tips.

A maxillofacial surgeon is the most popular, but at the same time complex medical specialty today. A person's face is their calling card, it is the appearance that determines individuality and provides a number of vital functions (breathing, speech, facial expressions, eating). The doctor treats abscesses, periostitis, difficult teething, inflammation of the salivary glands and maxillary sinuses. The doctor helps with the treatment of facial skeleton injuries, tumors on the jaw bones, congenital defects, pathologies and deformations.

During the treatment, the doctor uses multi-stage surgical methods for the treatment of both children and adults. Particular difficulties in the process of surgical treatment arise with maintaining a normal breathing process. The result of the treatment of maxillofacial lesions depends on the tactics of its management (anesthesia, surgical intervention, rehabilitation) and the professionalism of doctors.

Who is a maxillofacial surgeon?

Who is a maxillofacial surgeon? This is a qualified doctor who treats the oral cavity organs, damaged teeth, pathologies and deformations of the bones of the facial skeleton, neck and face. The area of the disease is innervated and supplied with blood, so all lesions are painful, leaving behind defects and serious deformations.

Before treating a disease, a maxillofacial surgeon conducts a detailed diagnosis of the patient. This is due to the fact that the treatment area is close to vital organs and the brain. All this suggests that a maxillofacial surgeon must be a true professional, be able to recognize the symptoms of serious diseases and promptly treat inflammation and lesions of the maxillofacial area.

When should you see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon?

When should you seek help from a maxillofacial surgeon, and what jaw and facial defects require mandatory treatment? Let's look at the symptoms of diseases that the doctor treats and that require immediate help.

• Periodontitis – the disease is accompanied by sharp and increasing toothache. Painful sensations are associated with pressure on nerve endings. Teeth affected by periodontitis change color and become mobile.
• Periostitis is an inflammation of the jaw that occurs due to the remaining root of a tooth after removal, and is accompanied by a small thickening on the gum, which gradually affects the soft tissues of the face.
• Osteomyelitis of the jaws - the symptoms of the disease are accompanied by pulsating pain in the jaw, chills, headache and high temperature. The disease occurs due to necrotic dental pulp.
• An abscess is a purulent accumulation. The disease is accompanied by weakness, headaches, high temperature and other symptoms that are typical for purulent-inflammatory processes.
• Lymphadenitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the lymph nodes. Most often it affects the head, mouth and throat.

What tests should be taken when visiting a maxillofacial surgeon?

Treatment of any disease is accompanied by taking tests that help diagnose the cause of the lesion and create the most effective treatment plan that meets the individual characteristics of the patient's body. Standard tests that are mandatory for all patients are a general and biochemical blood test, as well as a general urine test.

A maxillofacial surgeon may refer for histology, i.e. skin scrapings from the affected area. If the disease has developed in the neck and/or in the lymph node area, the patient needs to have a hormone test.

What diagnostic methods does a maxillofacial surgeon use?

Diagnostic methods help to determine the disease as accurately as possible, based on its symptoms and test results. Let's consider what diagnostic methods a maxillofacial surgeon uses. The most common method that allows you to visually see the extent of damage is X-ray and intraoral radiography, which is used for damage to the jaw and teeth.

In case of dental and bone tissue defects, the doctor conducts radiovisiographic diagnostics and X-rays. Tomography, MRI, CT, and cephalometric X-rays are used to diagnose facial lesions.

What does a maxillofacial surgeon do?

What does a maxillofacial surgeon do and what are the doctor's responsibilities? The specialist deals with diagnostics, treatment and prevention of diseases, lesions and pathologies of the maxillofacial region. The doctor corrects congenital deformities, bite disorders and performs aesthetic surgical treatment of the face and neck.

A maxillofacial surgeon treats emergency patients who are admitted with injuries and mutilations that require medical care. As a rule, these are people who have suffered in accidents and incidents. The doctor diagnoses and treats planned patients, performs operations. The surgeon accompanies the patient until complete recovery.

What diseases does a maxillofacial surgeon treat?

A maxillofacial surgeon is a qualified doctor who treats pathologies and defects of the maxillofacial region. Let's take a closer look at what diseases the doctor treats. All diseases are divided into certain groups, which depend on the causes of the lesions. The groups include tumors, inflammations, injuries, as well as acquired and congenital defects.

During the work, the maxillofacial surgeon interacts with plastic surgeons, oncologists, neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists and other specialists who help to make an accurate diagnosis and find treatment.

Advice from a maxillofacial surgeon

Advice from a maxillofacial surgeon is valuable advice and answers to questions that many patients are interested in. Let's look at some advice from the doctor.

• Maintaining oral hygiene is the simplest method of preserving and maintaining dental health. Preventive dental examinations will help to identify the presence of diseases and begin treatment in time. Healthy teeth are a guarantee that the help and treatment of a maxillofacial surgeon will not be required.
• Implantation is the process of introducing and replacing lost organs in the body using materials of non-biological origin. The main advantages of implantation are 100% aesthetics of the result, if we are talking about dental implants, and most importantly, the safety of this method.
• Congenital defects of the maxillofacial region should be treated from early childhood. This will help to avoid difficulties and discomfort in adolescence and adulthood.

A maxillofacial surgeon is a qualified doctor whose task is to promptly diagnose and properly treat lesions of the jaws and face. To do this, the doctor uses modern diagnostic methods and treatment methods.