There are nine different specialties in the field of dentistry, with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Effingham IL being the only one uniquely qualified in diagnosing and treating the functional and aesthetics issues of the face, jaws, and mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons or OMSs train nearly exclusively in surgical procedures to correct diseases, traumas, and defects of the head, neck, soft and hard tissues of the face, and the jaws.
The oral and maxillofacial professionals, such as those at The Center For Jaw and Facial Surgery P.C., are capable of performing dozens of surgical procedures, including:
* Jaw Surgery -; Orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery treats misaligned jaws, either from a congenital defect or trauma, which left unaddressed can affect biting or chewing food, excessive tooth wear, protruding jaw, or receding chin, or sleep disturbances. The jaws and chin may be re-positioned to correct dental abnormalities to improve speaking, chewing, and breathing.
* Wisdom Tooth Extraction -; Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge in the mouth and if there is enough space for them they might not need extraction. However, this is not usually the scenario and the teeth become impacted, requiring extraction to prevent infection or tooth decay. It is strongly recommended to remove them by the time the patient is a young teen as the roots are not fully developed, supporting bone is softer, and a reduced chance of harming nerves.
* Cleft Palate -; A congenital condition where the nasal cavity and mouth do not form properly during fetal development. The resulting split in the roof of the mouth or gap in the lip affects speech, eating, and even hearing. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are an indispensable part of the health care team in treating this condition through multiple surgeries.
Maxillofacial Surgery Effingham IL also treat patients that have experienced facial trauma that results in broken facial bones such as fractures of the jaws, cheekbones, palate, or eye sockets. TMD or Temporomandibular Disorders are also treated by oral and maxillofacial surgeons, as well as oral cancer, dental implants for missing teeth, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). In a nutshell, OMSs can do everything from correcting cleft palates, reconstructing facial bones, extracting impacted teeth, or removing tumors to placing supportive structures for prosthetic noses, ears, eyes, and eyebrows.
