Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a speciality that combines the fields of medicine, dentistry, and surgery. An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon is required to complete both a Dental Degree AND a Medical Degree, as well as a minimum of 6 years of medical and surgical training.
An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon is a specialist surgeon of the face, neck, jaws, and mouth. They treat a range of conditions including facial trauma, temporomandibular joint disorders, cysts and tumours of the jaw, and congenital facial deformities.
Procedures commonly performed by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon include:
Removal of wisdom teeth
Dental implants
Bone grafting and sinus lift surgery
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery)