Even if you visit your dentist regularly, sometimes you need specialized procedures. If you’ve ever had a dental emergency or a problem too severe for your dentist to help with, you may have seen a maxillofacial surgeon to correct it.

How is a Maxillofacial Surgeon Different from a Dentist?

Maxillofacial surgeons go beyond regular dental care. Their expertise extends to your jaw, head, and neck.

While your dentist performs routine procedures like cleanings, fillings, and simple extractions, a maxillofacial surgeon steps in for everything from tooth replacement to tumor removal. For example, if you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, you probably had the procedure done by a maxillofacial surgeon, as these removals can get more complicated than taking out a molar.

Maxillofacial surgeons also don’t typically provide other types of general dental care. Dentists perform x-rays, general screenings, and even offer advice on your overall dental health. When you see a maxillofacial surgeon, they usually focus on the problem you came to address.

What Does a Maxillofacial Surgeon Do?

Maxillofacial surgeons provide a range of services and procedures that treat everything from injuries and illnesses to malformations of the teeth and jaw. They typically correct these problems:

• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Oral and facial injuries
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Jaw positioning issues
• Congenital defects

Maxillofacial surgeons can diagnose and treat certain cancers that affect the mouth and nearby areas, like the throat or face. They also perform reconstructive surgery after facial injuries and do corrective surgery on your jaw if it causes problems like sleep apnea.

Maxillofacial Surgery on Staten Island

When you have a dental emergency or need a specialized procedure, talk to the Staten Island dentists at Oakwood Dental. Our maxillofacial surgeons will consult with you to correct your dental or jaw problems. Call us at (718) 400-9002 or contact us online and ask to schedule an appointment.