OMFS stands for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. This discipline focuses on the diagnosis, surgical, and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving the head, neck, face, jaws, and the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMFS) are experts in this complex anatomical region. Their practice covers a broad scope, addressing conditions that affect function, health, and appearance.
The Meaning of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The name itself defines the scope of this surgical specialty. The “Oral” component refers to the mouth and teeth, encompassing procedures related to soft tissues, alveolar bone, and dental structures. The “Maxillofacial” part extends the focus to include the jaws, face, and skull structures, dealing with the facial skeleton and overlying soft tissues. The “Surgery” component confirms that the primary treatment involves operative procedures to correct, repair, or reconstruct these areas.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is unique because it is the only surgical specialty officially recognized by both the medical and dental professions. This dual recognition places the field at the intersection of both healthcare disciplines. OMFS specialists are trained to treat a wide array of conditions, from routine oral issues to complex facial trauma and congenital deformities.
The Extensive Training Required
The path to becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon requires extensive training. It begins with the completion of four years of dental school, resulting in either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. Following dental school, candidates must complete a minimum of four years of hospital-based surgical residency training. During this period, residents gain proficiency in various surgical and medical disciplines, including general surgery, anesthesiology, internal medicine, and emergency medicine.
A significant number of OMFS programs are six-year programs that integrate medical school education, leading to the surgeon earning both a dental degree and a medical degree (MD). This dual-degree pathway provides the surgeon with a deeper understanding of systemic diseases and their impact on the head and neck region, enabling competence in both medical and dental hospital settings. The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery certifies these specialists after they successfully navigate this extensive training, which typically requires a minimum of eight years of post-undergraduate education.
Procedures Performed by OMFS Specialists
The scope of procedures performed by OMFS specialists is broad, ranging from common outpatient procedures to complex reconstructive surgeries. One frequent area of practice is dentoalveolar surgery, which focuses on surgical treatments involving the teeth and supporting bone. This includes the removal of impacted teeth, such as wisdom teeth, routine extractions, and pre-prosthetic surgery to prepare the jaw for dentures.
OMFS surgeons are also leaders in dental implantology and bone grafting, involving the surgical placement of titanium implants into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. When the jawbone is deficient due to disease or trauma, specialists perform advanced reconstructive procedures like sinus lifts or block bone grafting to rebuild the necessary supporting structure. This reconstructive aspect extends to managing facial trauma, as OMFS surgeons treat fractures of the jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, and other facial structures resulting from accidents or injuries.
Another area of expertise is corrective jaw surgery, known as orthognathic surgery, which involves repositioning the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both to correct severe malocclusions, bite problems, and facial asymmetry. OMFS specialists also diagnose and treat pathology of the head and neck, including cysts and tumors of the jaw and mouth, often requiring the surgical removal of lesions. For severe cases, they may participate in microvascular free tissue transfer to reconstruct the jaw and face following cancer removal, using tissue harvested from other parts of the body.
Patient Scenarios: When You Need an OMFS
Patients typically encounter an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon through a referral from a general dentist, orthodontist, or emergency room physician. A common reason for referral is the presence of problematic third molars, or impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause pain, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth. A dentist may also refer a patient for the surgical removal of a tooth that is fractured below the gum line or is too complex for a standard extraction.
Referrals are frequent for patients requiring dental implants to replace missing teeth, especially when complex bone grafting is needed to create a stable foundation. When a patient experiences a traumatic injury, such as a fractured jaw or complex facial lacerations, an OMFS specialist is consulted for facial injury repair in the hospital setting. Other scenarios include referrals for the diagnosis of suspicious lesions in the mouth, or for the surgical treatment of severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that have not responded to conservative therapies. Patients can schedule a consultation directly, particularly in cases of urgent pain or injury, though a referral is generally recommended.