Editorial from an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Perspective!!!

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is the surgical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and management of wide spectrum of diseases, injuries, defects and aesthetic aspects in the head and neck region. The specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is defined by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons as the specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and the esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized specialty and it is worthwhile to note most of the pioneers in this speciality were all medical doctors, because at that time formal dental education did not exist. In late 18th century, importance of a dental background in the management of patients were realized by many of these oral and maxillofacial surgeons, so many people began to obtain a dental degree as well. In most of the countries now a dual degree involving both medical and dental is mandatory to become an OMF Surgeon, except for some countries, where it’s still recognized as a dental specialty. The lack awareness among the public about our speciality as illustrated by various national and international surveys as led to poor recognition of our speciality.

Over the decades the speciality has made distinguished contribution in the field of medicine and dentistry, still a dilemma exist among dental and medical health professionals regarding the expertise and nature of work of oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Initially the speciality was known as oral surgery. In the current era of better training, infrastructure and improved management of patients; the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery has evolved drastically to stage where now the speciality is recognized as Cranio-maxillofacial surgery.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) treat accident victims suffering facial injuries, offer reconstructive and dental implant surgery, and care for patients with functional and aesthetic conditions of the maxillofacial areas, tumors, cysts and developmental craniofacial abnormalities of the face and jaws .They are also trained to treat and care for patients who experience conditions as problems of wisdom teeth, facial pain, and misaligned jaws.

The scope of this specialty is extensive and concerns the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (face and neck) regions, including the following:

1. Oral and dentoalveolar surgery (removal of impacted teeth, cysts, etc.)

2. Preprosthetic surgery (bone augmentation)

3. Orthognathic surgery (dentofacial deformities)

4. Maxillofacial trauma (facial bone fractures and related soft tissue injuries).

5. Reconstructive surgery of the face.

6. Dental implant surgery and associated bone grafting

7. Cleft lip and palate surgery.

8. Congenital craniofacial deformities.

9. Facial cosmetic procedures (rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy, blepharoplasty, facial implants, etc.).

10. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD).

11. Tumor and Cancer surgery.

12. Snoring and sleep apnea correction surgery.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons frequently work in tandem with other specialists including dentists, orthodontists, radiologists, prosthodontists, ENT surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, neurosurgeons, and other medical professionals. Uncertainty continues to exist among the medical and dental professionals with regard to referral of certain surgical procedures to different specialty. This is particularly true when discerning between the specialties of otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and OMS.

“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.” - Khalil Gibran

It is important that awareness in created among both the medical and dental fraternity, as well as the public, about the scope of OMS. This understanding is highly essential for patients to receive the best treatment available by concerned speciality trained surgeons. So as clinicians across all boundaries let us unite together and be generous in providing good quality treatment to the patient.