What Is Maxillofacial Surgery and When Is It Required?

Maxillofacial surgery (oral and maxillofacial surgery) is a specialty that treats conditions of the face, jaws, mouth, and related structures from facial injuries and impacted teeth to jaw misalignment, cysts, tumours, and corrective jaw surgery. It is required when problems affecting the jaws or face cannot be managed by dental or medical treatment alone, such as fractured facial bones, severely misaligned jaws, or growths needing surgical removal.

According to an expert maxillofacial surgeon at Echelon Hospital, a multispecialty hospital in Kopar Khairane,
“People think of this as just complex dentistry, but maxillofacial surgery sits at the meeting point of the face, jaw, and bite, and getting it right restores not only function like chewing and breathing but also a person’s appearance and confidence.”

Maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty bridging dentistry and medicine, dealing with the bones and soft tissues of the face, jaws, and mouth. At Echelon Hospital, Kopar Khairane, these procedures are carried out by surgeons trained in both dental and surgical disciplines.

• Facial and Jaw Bones: The specialty treats fractures and injuries of the facial skeleton the jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, and nose restoring both structure and function after trauma.
• The Mouth and Teeth: It covers complex extractions such as impacted wisdom teeth, removal of cysts and tumours of the jaw, and placement of dental implants, including in patients who need bone grafting first.
• Jaw Alignment (Bite): Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) repositions the upper or lower jaw to fix severe bite problems and facial imbalance that braces alone cannot correct.
• Soft Tissues and Beyond: It also addresses conditions of the salivary glands, the jaw joint (TMJ), and some facial cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, often working alongside other specialists.

Because the face and jaws affect breathing, eating, speech, and appearance, maxillofacial surgery often restores function and form together rather than treating them separately.

Maxillofacial surgery is needed when a condition of the face, jaw, or mouth is beyond what routine dental or medical care can fix. The decision depends on the type and severity of the problem, confirmed with examination and imaging.

• Facial Trauma: Road accidents, falls, or sports injuries can fracture the jaw or facial bones. Surgery realigns and fixes these bones so the face heals in the correct position with restored function.
• Impacted Teeth and Jaw Lesions: Wisdom teeth that are stuck, or cysts and tumours in the jaw, often need surgical removal to relieve pain, prevent infection, and protect surrounding teeth and bone.
• Jaw Misalignment and Implants: Severe bite problems are corrected with orthognathic surgery, while patients missing teeth with insufficient bone may need grafting before dental implants can be placed.
• Important: Many face, jaw, and airway concerns overlap with ear, nose, and throat problems, so anyone unsure whether to see an ENT specialist or a maxillofacial surgeon is best assessed at a multispecialty hospital where both can review the case together.

Because these conditions affect function and appearance, the need for maxillofacial surgery is best decided by a specialist after examination and imaging rather than from symptoms alone.

The dental and maxillofacial team at Echelon Hospital, Kopar Khairane, manages the full range of face, jaw, and mouth conditions from facial trauma and impacted teeth to corrective jaw surgery and implants. Each case is planned with the right imaging and, where needed, alongside ENT, dental, and other specialists, so both function and appearance are restored.

References:

• • • • • • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – National Institutes of Health (NIH) / MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002989.htm
          • Oral Health – World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health