Do you know what oral/maxillofacial surgeons specialize in? They perform surgeries on teeth, gums, and jaw, as well as the oral and facial structures that surround them. Oral/maxillofacial surgeons undergo three to four years of intense training following their graduation from dental school.

At the office of Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, our staff provides a warm and welcoming experience for each patient. We ensure that our patrons always feel at ease. When you walk through our doors, you feel confident that you’re receiving the finest and most advanced treatment.

Oral/maxillofacial surgeons treat a variety of conditions. Take a look at this small sample. 

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. Many people suffer from them. The two TMJ connect your jaw to your skull. You can feel these little hinges when you put a finger right in front of your ears and open and close your mouth. These active and important junctures can elicit jaw pain, headaches, stiffness and jaw-popping. When treatments such as physical therapy, ice packs and oral medications have failed, an oral/maxillofacial surgeon can be considered to step in and alleviate the problem. 

Overbites/underbites. Some misaligned jaws can be rectified with braces and other orthodontic appliances. But severe issues frequently need an oral/maxillofacial surgeon to relocate all or part of the lower jaw, upper jaw or both. The surgery will reposition them so they’re functional, balanced and healthy. 

Dentures that will fit better. Some people who are getting dentures for the first time need oral surgery to modify one or more abnormalities of the jaw before the dentures are created. In other cases, individuals who have worn dentures for a long time find that their dentures no longer fit well due to the deterioration of supporting jaw bones. An oral/maxillofacial surgeon can insert bone grafts in places where the natural bone has corroded. 

Difficulties sleeping and breathing. If your case is so severe that surgery is recommended, an oral/maxillofacial surgeon can come to your rescue. The kind of surgery you would have depends on what’s impeding your breathing. It may be a simple matter of enlarging your airway or adjusting a particular area of your mouth or nasal passages. Or, you may need to have a bit of soft tissue in the back of your mouth or in your lower jaw removed. 

Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery’s mission is to deliver superior patient care. For more information about our practice and to discover how we can help you, please call us to schedule an appointment.

By Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

December 29, 2022

Oral surgery refers to an operation done on your teeth, gums, jaw, as well as the oral and facial structures that surround them. An oral/maxillofacial surgeon specializes in these surgeries after having undergone three to four years of further training following his/her graduation from dental school.

If you or someone in your family needs an oral surgeon/maxillofacial, we at the office of Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery are dedicated to providing you with the topmost level of expert and empathetic care. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your well-being. You will be in excellent medical hands. We are experts at making all of our patients—from children to adults—feel comfortable and secure during their visits.

Here’s a sample of conditions they address. 

Orthognathic surgeries

They’re choices for patients who have extreme underbites or overbites, difficulty swallowing or chewing, sleep apnea and particular birth defects. While some of these issues can be rectified with braces and other orthodontic appliances, problems that are more serious need surgery to move all or part of the upper jaw, lower jaw or both into a position that’s well-positioned, efficient and beneficial. 

Impacted wisdom teeth

When they’re ready to break through the gum line, they sometimes do so only partially or not at all because the jaw hasn’t enough room. The results can be infections of the tissue encircling the teeth as well permanent harm to neighboring bone, gums and teeth. Cysts or tumors occasionally form and ruin parts of the jaw. 

Enhancing the fit of dentures

For people who’ll be fitted for their first set of dentures, surgery can fix jaw anomalies so the dentures will fit better. And for denture veterans, the bone of the jaws frequently wanes over time, which makes the dentures fit improperly. The surgeon inserts bone grafts where the bone has deteriorated.

Cancer therapy

Oral surgeons can treat the mouth, head, neck, sinuses, throat, larynx and lips. They also work on nerve repair, cleft lips and palates, and injuries and infections of the face. 

At the office of Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we provide a warm and welcoming experience for each patient. We ensure that everyone who comes to see us feels at ease. When you visit us, you can be confident that you are receiving the finest and most advanced treatment available. Please call us today to schedule an appointment.

By Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

April 26, 2022