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Maxillofacial surgery

Maxillofacial Surgery

Maxillofacial surgery is specialized surgery of jaws and face to correct the deformities, repair injuries and treat diseases.

  • The surgery is carried out by a qualified surgeon who is known as an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon.

 

Why is it needed?

Conditions for maxillofacial surgery are:

  • Facial injury caused by severe accident
  • Birth deformity
  • Gum diseases
  • Severe orthodontic deformity
  • Cancer patients with facial tumors

Facts and  Figures

  • Maxillofacial surgery is a special branch of dentistry, one of nine dental specialities
  • Hugo Obwegeser is considered to be the pioneer in orthognathic (or facial skeletal) surgery. He introduced this surgery to the US surgeons
  • Luc Chikhani reconstructed the face of Trevor Rees-Jones face, which had been injured in the car crash which killed Princess Diana
  • Maxillofacial surgery is usually performed in emergency cases
  • 3 million or more surgeries are performed every year in the States, most of which are victims of vehicle accidents

Advantages

  • This surgery treats injuries and deformities
  • Maxillofacial surgery improves facial appearance which helps patient to regain self-esteem and confidence
  • Gives relief from discomfort and pain due to gum disease

Disadvantages

  • Permanently deformed face due to improper surgery
  • Damage to facial nerves resulting in loss of taste, smell, sensation and facial movement
  • Bone graft rejection and fractured bone not joining
  • Facial scars

Risks and Complications

  • Reaction to medication or anesthesia
  • Infection of the surgical wound
  • Bleeding
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Incomplete treatment or correction
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Muscular damage

Pre-operative preparation

  • Full body physical examination
  • Urine and blood analysis
  • Consult dentist to know which medicines are allowed or not allowed week before procedure
  • Inform about any smoking or alcohol habits
  • Arrange for work leave, help with household chores, driving and recuperation period
  • No eating or drinking anything after midnight, night before the procedure
  • Medical tourists should take up comfortable lodgings near the clinic

Post-operative care

  • To ensure proper healing and control pain, patients have to take their medication regularly

Do’s, Don’ts and Precautions

  • Do not spit or rinse for 24 hours post surgery
  • Do keep tongue and finger away from surgical area
  • Do use ice on surgical area for 24 hours, applying for 20 minutes and removing for 10 minutes
  • Drink lot of fluids
  • Don’t use straws
  • Chew gum to relax stiffness
  • Use warm, moist heat to the face’s muscles to reduce jaw stiffness
  • Rinse with salty water after meals on the first day following surgery
  • Don’t eat nuts, seeds, popcorn etc
  • Eat soft food
  • Apply pressure to surgical area with a small piece of rolled gauze to control bleeding
  • No smoking till wounds heal
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