What is maxillofacial surgery? Who is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon? What are the main types of diagnostics usually performed by a Maxillofacial Surgeon?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a medical science that combines knowledge from surgery and dentistry. Her interests include the face, neck and jaw. She deals with problems of inflammatory, traumatic, benign and malignant nature, congenital and acquired defects developing in these areas. Maxillofacial surgery is considered one of the most complex and sought-after areas of modern medicine. Specialists from the Garant medical center talk about this in more detail.

Who is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon? Despite the fact that the competence of this specialist includes the elimination of pathologies such as the removal of an incorrectly positioned tooth, for example, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is still not a dentist. If you compare what a plastic surgeon does and what a maxillofacial surgeon treats, then you can also find differences in their activities. The work of the first is related to the elimination of aesthetic defects in soft tissues. The second one also works with soft tissues, but specializes more in the facial skeleton and disorders associated with it. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons successfully work with inflammatory diseases of the jaws, teeth, facial tissues, neck, oral organs: periodontitis, periostitis, osteomyelitis, phlegmon, abscesses, difficult teething... They deal with injuries of the bones of the facial skeleton and soft tissues of the face and neck, tumors and tumor-like formations of the face, jaw bones, oral organs; congenital and acquired defects and deformities. Specialists work in close collaboration with ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, ENT specialists, traumatologists and oncologists.

When to contact? Visits to a maxillofacial surgeon can be both planned and urgent. The patient regularly comes to see a specialist if some inflammatory disease becomes a complication or if a birth defect needs to be corrected. The patient is examined and prepared for surgery. It also happens that the help of a maxillofacial surgeon is required urgently. Victims of accidents, car accidents, accidents... To determine the diagnosis in such patients, a specialist needs to act as quickly and comprehensively as possible. There are inflammatory pathologies in which complications manifest themselves in the form of abscesses. They also require an urgent response.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery – for adults? This is wrong. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon patients can be both young and old. Congenital anomalies in the maxillofacial region must be eliminated in early childhood. Bones grow and become stronger with age, so the sooner you contact a specialist, the easier and faster the defect can be eliminated. For example, anomalies such as cleft lip and cleft palate can be treated from the age of three months.

What exactly does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon do? First, the doctor examines the patient: conducts a survey, examines the patient, and studies the history of the development of the disorder. Before starting treatment, the maxillofacial surgeon also conducts a diagnostic examination, which may include an x-ray, computed tomography, general blood test, allergy test, etc. Treatment methods are selected depending on the severity, general health, indications and contraindications.

Why is it important to choose a specialist responsibly? The main methods of maxillofacial surgery are surgical interventions, which are carried out using modern technologies and materials, which avoid the formation of rough scars and make postoperative marks almost invisible. Skillfully carried out treatment gives a person the opportunity to regain a beautiful smile and get rid of worries about any defects of the jaws and face. The outcome of treatment directly depends on how well the treatment tactics are developed and how well the doctors work.

What exactly can be fixed?― maxillofacial anomalies (the presence of dystopic, impacted and supernumerary teeth, median and lateral cysts of the neck, the presence of parotid appendages, preauricular fistulas, deformation of the auricles and protruding ears, inflammation of the nodes of the lymphatic system and salivary glands); - treat inflammatory diseases of the soft tissues of the maxillofacial area and neck (boils, carbuncles, abscesses, phlegmons, lymphadenitis and sialadenitis); - treat inflammation of the bone tissue of the maxillofacial area (periostitis or gumboil, osteomyelitis of the jaw); ― eliminate damage to the maxillofacial area; ― remove benign tumors and neoplasms (fibromas, papillomas, angiomas, osteomas); - fractures and dislocations of teeth.

How are flux and osteomyelitis treated? Periostitis or gumboil is an inflammation of the periosteum, in which the gums become swollen and very painful. Flux is treated with conservative and surgical methods. The method is chosen by the doctor depending on the course of the disease and its severity. During the operation, the surgeon makes an incision, treats the affected area and installs drainage to remove pus. If the cause of the flux is a sore tooth, then it is also removed. For conservative treatment, drugs from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an infectious purulent-necrotic process that develops in the bone and surrounding tissues. Sources of infection can be: advanced dental caries (pulpitis), a source of chronic infection in the body (for example, chronic or acute tonsillitis), jaw injuries. After diagnosis and determination of the form, treatment of jaw osteomyelitis is carried out, the main direction of which is to eliminate the source of infection or injury, and, if necessary, surgical intervention is performed. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe medications aimed at improving the condition of the body as a whole.

Treatment of fractures and dislocations of teeth Tooth luxation is the displacement of a tooth in its socket with damage to its ligamentous apparatus. A tooth can be dislocated due to impact or biting on hard food. In case of incomplete dislocation, the tooth's position is restored and fixed in various ways, followed by filling of the root canals when the pulp dies. To treat a complete dislocation of a tooth, the tooth is returned back to its socket, the so-called replantation. Indications for tooth replantation depend on the condition of the tooth itself and surrounding tissues, the condition of the tooth root, the age and condition of the patient. After replantation, teeth can last up to 10 years.

Maxillofacial surgery is one of the most complex areas of modern medicine. Specialists are called upon to cope with diseases of the neck, jaw, face, teeth, which sometimes include neoplasms, purulent processes, and inflammation of the nerves. The surgeon not only relieves the patient of the disease, but also preserves the person’s appearance in its original beauty.

Description

The Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery (Moscow) is a budget medical institution opened in 1962. TsNIIS conducts research and practical activities in two main areas - dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. Training programs, methodological and coordination activities are also implemented.

The Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow provides services for children and adults under compulsory medical insurance policies (temporarily suspended as of 07/01/17), voluntary health insurance and a commercial contract. Patients are served in the outpatient consultation department and in the hospital. The pediatric population is served in a separate clinic.

Dental services

The dental clinic provides the following services:

Therapy (caries, pulpitis, whitening, root canal filling, restoration, etc.).
Surgery (laser surgery, tooth extraction, tooth preservation surgery, etc.).
correction of bite in children and adults, etc.).
Orthopedics (all types of prosthetics, metal ceramics, production of bridges, veneers, etc.).
Children's dentistry.
Treatment of periodontal diseases.
Implantation followed by prosthetics.
Treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa.
Functional dental diagnostics.

Maxillofacial center

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center provides services to the population in a hospital setting. The clinic uses the most modern equipment and uses proprietary microsurgery techniques. The Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery performs most interventions using endoscopic and minimally invasive technologies.

Types of assistance:

Removal of benign tumors with simultaneous tissue restoration.
Osteosynthesis (treatment of fractures of the facial bones of the head).
Restorative operations of facial bones, ears, elimination of congenital and acquired deformities.
Blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, treatment of pathologies of the palate and upper lip.
Restoring the movement of facial muscles using surgical methods.
Plastic surgery to correct facial proportions.
Surgical treatment of facial paralysis.
Microsurgery of the facial nerve (paresis of various origins).
Correction of bite using surgical methods.
Endoscopy of the paranasal sinuses and much more.

Children's clinic

The Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow in the children's clinic provides a full range of dental services and treatment of the maxillofacial area of any complexity.

The field of pediatric surgery began in the 80s, and in the early 90s a center was created for the implementation of scientific and practical activities, which included inpatient, outpatient and research departments. Over 26 years of operation, the institution has become the largest center for pediatric dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.

Treatment for children

The children's center provides the following services:

A full range of diagnostic procedures for preparing for operations (CT, computer biomodeling, MRI, manufacturing of implants, endoprostheses, etc.).
Examination, treatment, rehabilitation of children with any types of diseases or pathologies of the maxillofacial area (burns, bone deformations, congenital pathologies, scars, etc.).
Dental therapy and surgery for children and adults with the possibility of treatment under general anesthesia in a day hospital.
Orthodontics, all types of anesthesia.
Rehabilitation after surgical interventions (specialists from related fields are involved - ophthalmologists, psychologists, dentists, pediatricians, etc.).

The clinic accepts patients from the first days of life and provides a full range of services for treatment, including rehabilitation and further observation.

Reviews about the dental clinic

The Central Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow has been considered one of the best medical dental centers since its founding. At the present stage, the use of high-tech equipment has made the clinic’s services more efficient. Due to the use of the latest diagnostic and treatment methods, the duration of procedures has been significantly shortened and the quality has improved. This is confirmed by patient reviews. Most of them came to a medical institution with complex problems in dental treatment or with maxillofacial diseases.

The stories left indicate that the doctors of the dental center try to save the patient’s teeth at the slightest opportunity, performing surgical operations or prescribing effective therapy.

Clients who visited the Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow wrote words of gratitude to many therapists and surgeons at the dental center, mentioning that only professionalism and fundamental knowledge helped solve their problem. The reviews indicate the names of those doctors whom patients recommend contacting in order to get the desired result.

Many said that all the clinic staff are polite and friendly. For few people, standard dental treatment does not make them nervous, and if the disease is complex, then worry and anxiety take hold of even the most persistent patients. To the credit of most doctors, it is mentioned that they patiently and confidently cope not only with diseases, pathologies, injuries, but also strive to create psychological comfort for the patient.

Reviews indicate that doctors reassure the patient at every stage of the procedure, answer all questions and do not get tired of repeating the same thing several times to convince the patient of success and future health. In most cases, assurances and promises come true completely.

Negative reviews

Their reviews were written by patients who did not like the Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow. Reviews talk about several specialists who made further visits to the clinic impossible. In some cases, clients felt that the doctor was inattentive and did not want to listen to complaints, relying on diagnostic results and images.

There is a review in which the clinic is accused of being unclean and indulging in the unhealthy desires of clients. This is how one of the young patients, having completely healthy teeth, turned to the dental center to have all her teeth completely replaced and given a so-called “Hollywood smile.” The doctors happily met her halfway, without warning her of the dire consequences of such a step. The situation was saved by the girl’s mother, but it is almost impossible to understand the approval of the procedure by the specialists.

The Institute of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow has been criticized for poorly thought out logistics - procedures must be paid for one at a time, and doctors' offices are located on different floors. As a result of shuttling between floors, patients lose a lot of time because there are queues everywhere and sometimes procedures cannot be completed in one day, although this is a necessary condition for therapy.

Reviews about maxillofacial surgery

The Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery in Moscow received the most enthusiastic reviews of the work of the surgeons and the clinic. This line of work differs from dentistry in that there are no trivial tasks, and the patient evaluates the skill of the specialist immediately after the operation. Clients wrote many grateful words to doctors and nurses for excellent surgical interventions and care.

Patients say that the diseases with which they come to the clinic are aggravated by the fact that they not only harm their health, but often disfigure their appearance. The task of a maxillofacial surgeon is not only to rid a person of illness, but also to return the face that nature gave. Most patients claim that these two conditions are fully met in the Central Scientific Research Institute and Maxillofacial Surgery; sometimes it seems that wizards are working there.

Specialists do not just perform operations, but carefully monitor the patient’s condition, prescribe an individual course of rehabilitation programs, and invite you to appointments at the required frequency in order to monitor the dynamics of recovery and prevent complications. according to patients, they demonstrate miracles when dressing, performing manipulations as painlessly and tactfully as possible.

Maxillofacial surgeon is a doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment of various diseases of the face, neck and oral cavity. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in chemistry and biology (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Description of the profession

Although this profession is directly related to dentistry, it goes far beyond it. There are several areas of maxillofacial surgery. Among them are surgical care for injuries, reconstructive surgery of the face, surgical care for anomalies and deformations of the tissues of the maxillofacial area.

How does a maxillofacial surgeon differ from a plastic surgeon?

The difference, firstly, is in the purpose of work. If a plastic surgeon works with healthy people, then a maxillofacial surgeon solves medical problems. His main task is not the realization of dreams of an ideal appearance, but the restoration of health. And while working on aesthetics, he does not improve nature, but restores and reconstructs what was.

Secondly, a plastic surgeon works mainly with soft tissues, while maxillofacial surgery works with the facial skeleton.

Fortunately, modern medicine makes it possible to correct even very complex injuries and deformations, which until recently were considered hopeless: equipment is being improved year after year, new materials and developments in the field of microsurgery appear. Even after very serious injuries, there is a chance that the surgeon will be able to restore the face without leaving even traces of what happened.

Emergency and planned patients are admitted to the maxillofacial surgeon. Planned operations are performed in case of tumors, congenital anomalies, as well as inflammation if they have gone too far.

And emergency patients are most often people injured in accidents, accidents, terrorist attacks, etc. Disasters do not take into account the time of day and night, which means that even on the night shift, the surgeon must be prepared for the arrival of severe patients. Inflammation that has reached the purulent stage also requires emergency measures. That’s why sometimes such patients are brought by ambulance.

If a person has a severe facial injury, it is very difficult to determine by eye what exactly is damaged and how. In this case, the patient himself may be unconscious or simply not be able to speak. The surgeon carefully examines the wounds and prescribes x-rays or tomography of the skull. With their help, he determines which bones need to be restored and how.

In other cases, the patient himself can tell what worries him and where it hurts.

However, a surgeon can determine a lot without asking questions. For example, to see a congenital cleft of the upper lip and palate (the so-called cleft lip and cleft palate), you don’t even need to be a doctor.

A baby born with such a problem definitely needs surgical help. Without this, he will not be able to speak fully and even eat, not to mention the fact that an uncorrected defect in appearance can become an obstacle between the child and other people.

The surgeon examines the patient, questions him in detail, and if it is a child, he talks with the parents, prescribes radiation diagnostics and other studies. Having collected the necessary information, he decides whether an operation is needed, and if so, then to what extent.

For example, treatment of cleft lip and palate requires several operations (up to seven!). In some cases, the first of them is done already at 3 months of age. The doctor decides when exactly to start treatment.

The face, neck, and oral cavity are among the most difficult areas from a surgical point of view. Sometimes operations turn out to be very complex and long, but the surgeon understands that life and the entire future fate of a person depend on his actions.

The surgeons themselves say that a successfully performed operation gives a feeling of elation and satisfaction from their work. But success requires the highest qualifications.

The profession of a maxillofacial surgeon is not only about operations. The doctor is responsible for his patient until recovery.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon often works together with surgeons from other areas: a plastic surgeon, an otolaryngologist, an oncologist, etc. For example, if it turns out that jaw pathology also affects the ENT organs, an otolaryngologist is involved in the examination, who then participates in the operation. Or a facial injury may be combined with a closed craniocerebral injury - in this case, the help of a neurosurgeon is needed.

Workplace

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in specialized clinics and departments of large hospitals. These include the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery (TsNIISiChLH), the Maxillofacial Hospital for War Veterans (Moscow), the Moscow Center for Pediatric Maxillofacial Surgery, the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Research Children's Orthopedic Institute named after. Turner (St. Petersburg), etc.

Salary

Salary as of December 11, 2019

Russia 19625—85000 ₽

Moscow 150000—1000000 ₽

Important qualities

The profession of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon requires a high sense of responsibility towards patients combined with determination, good intelligence and a penchant for working with hands, good fine motor skills and physical endurance, the ability to constantly increase knowledge and a desire to help people.

Knowledge and skills

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon must have a good knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, especially the maxillofacial region and neck. Know craniofacial pathologies, their manifestations and treatment methods, master modern diagnostic methods, be able to carry out drug and surgical treatment.

Where do they teach

To become a maxillofacial surgeon, you need to graduate from a medical school with a degree in general medicine, and then specialize in residency in maxillofacial surgery or undergo postgraduate training in this specialty.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a medical science that simultaneously combines knowledge from surgery and dentistry. Her range of interests includes the following areas:

Face;
Jaw.

She deals with problems of inflammatory, traumatic, benign and malignant nature, as well as congenital and acquired defects developing in these areas of the body.

Maxillofacial surgery has taken all the best from dental and plastic surgery, but at the same time has supplemented its capabilities with unique abilities to cure patients from inflammatory diseases, reconstruct hard and soft tissues, eliminate aesthetic defects, correct disorders of any complexity and eliminate the consequences of various injuries, even firearms in nature.

The face and skull are a unique feature that a person needs not only for aesthetics and adaptation in society, but also for such vital functions as eating and chewing food, breathing, the ability to talk and show their emotions through facial expressions.

For problems, diseases and injuries affecting this area, you need to contact a maxillofacial surgeon. This specialist is not a dentist, he does not do fillings and straightening of the dentition, but, nevertheless, his competence includes such pathologies as:

impacted tooth - a condition in which it has fully formed under the gum, but has not erupted through it, or has done so only partially, thereby causing severe pain and anxiety;
an incorrectly positioned tooth - this usually concerns wisdom teeth that need to be removed.

If you compare what a plastic surgeon does and what a maxillofacial surgeon treats, you can also find differences in their activities. The work of the first is mainly aimed at eliminating aesthetic defects, and specifically in soft tissues. While the second one also works with soft tissues, but specializes more in the facial skeleton and disorders associated with it. There are diseases such as bone tumors or bone deformities (congenital and acquired), but with the help of modern operations this can be corrected. However, more often than not, this requires several multi-stage operations.

Despite the fact that the working area of a maxillofacial surgeon is limited, there are quite a lot of diseases and pathologies in it. All the doctor’s patients can be divided into: planned and urgent.

The first ones usually come on their own, or by direction. They have complaints, or some inflammatory disease is causing complications, or they want to eliminate a congenital defect. This applies to anomalies, tumors and the like. They are examined, and if they require surgery, they begin to prepare for it.
In the case of the latter, the help of a maxillofacial surgeon is urgently required. The most common patients are: victims of accidents, car accidents, assassinations, accidents, terrorist attacks and other incidents. These conditions are usually very serious, and a person must be brought out of a critical situation quickly and very carefully. Moreover, this happens at any hour of the day or night, which means that the doctor has a huge responsibility, regardless of the time of day or day of the week. The worst thing is that most often patients are unconscious or cannot speak, therefore, in order to determine the diagnosis, you need to act as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

There are inflammatory pathologies in which complications manifest themselves in the form of abscesses. They also require an urgent response.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon patients can be both young and old. Anomalies such as cleft lip and cleft palate can be treated from the age of three months. Moreover, to completely eliminate the defect, about 7 surgical interventions are required.