Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is a recognized international surgical specialty, and it is one of the nine specialties of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association.
Oral and maxillofacial Surgeons: Working with the orthodontist and changing Lives with a Smile
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the only recognized dental specialists who, after completing dental school, are surgically trained in an American Dental Association-accredited hospital-based residency program for a minimum of four years. They train alongside medical residents in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology and also spend time in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), plastic surgery, emergency medicine and other specialty areas. Their training focuses almost exclusively on the hard and soft tissue of the face, mouth and jaws, and their knowledge and surgical expertise uniquely qualify them to diagnose and treat the functional and esthetic conditions in this part of the body. Dr. Lineberry works closely with many oral surgeons in the Treasure Valley, and at Travis Air Force Base, for our patients that are in the military. Together working as a team, the orthodontist and the oral surgeon can achieve great results for those patients that need orthognathic or jaw surgery.
Conditions and Treatments that require the orthodontist an the oral surgeon work together
Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon has many years of education and hands-on training to provide treatment for a wide range of conditions. As the orthodontist on this team, Dr. Lineberry prides herself in working closely with the oral surgeon to ensure the best possible treatment outcome.
Corrective Jaw Surgery or Orthognathic Surgery
- Corrective jaw or orthognathic surgery is performed in which the upper jaw, lower jaw and chin may be repositioned to correct minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth which can improve chewing, speaking and breathing. Difficulty chewing or biting food, excessive wear of teeth, a receding chin, a protruding jaw or sleep apnea may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery. Dr. Lineberry places braces and prepares the teeth so that when the oral surgeon is ready to perform surgery, the teeth will align perfectly. Pre-surgical orthodontics can take up to 18 months to complete prior to surgery.
Wisdom teeth or third molars
- Wisdom teeth, our third molars, are the last set of teeth to develop. Sometimes they emerge from the gum line, and the jaw is large enough to allow room for them, but more often than not, they fail to emerge and become impacted. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections and even gum disease. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons strongly recommends that wisdom teeth be removed by the time the patient is a young adult in order to prevent future problems and to ensure optimal healing. Dr .Lineberry will refer her patients to the oral surgeon at the optimum time to have the third molars, or Wisdom teeth, removed.
Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Disorders
- Cleft lip and cleft palate result when all or portions of the mouth and nasal cavity do not grow together properly during fetal development. The result is a gap in the lip or a split in the opening in the roof of the mouth. Until it is treated with surgery, a cleft palate can cause problems with feeding, speech and hearing. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work as part of a team of health care specialists to correct these problems through a series of treatments and surgical procedures over many years. Orthodontists are an integral part of this team, as patients with a cleft lip and palate often need several stages of braces and orthodontic appliances. Dr. Lineberry has received specialized training in the orthodontic correction of patients with a cleft lip and palate as she spent over ten years as the lead orthodontist on the St. Luke's craniofacial and cleft lip and palate teams.
Facial Trauma
- Maxillofacial injuries or facial trauma encompass any injury to the mouth, face and jaw. One of the most common types of serious injury to the face occurs when bones are broken. Fractures can involve the lower jaw, upper jaw, palate, cheekbones, eye sockets or combinations of these bones. These injuries can affect sight and the ability to breathe, speak and swallow. Because of this, the expertise of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon is indispensable. Avoiding injury is always best, so it is extremely important to use seat belts, protective mouth guards and appropriate masks and helmets for everyone who participates in athletic pursuits at any level. Dr. Lineberry can direct you in what type of mouth guard is best, depending on if the patient is currently undergoing orthodontic treatment, and what sport that patient is playing. Her goal is to prevent injury so that facial trauma is not an issue.
Temporomandibular Joint Surgery and TMJ Disorder
- The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small joint located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet and allows the lower jaw to move and function. If you experience jaw pain, earaches, headaches, a limited ability to open or close your mouth, clicking or grating sounds, you may have Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). TMJ treatment may range from conservative dental and medical care to complex surgery. Often, TMJ problems can result from a poor bite. Dr. Lineberry will specifically look for functional issues with your bite to determine if it is contributing to TMJ problems. She may recommend braces or Invisalign to fix functional problems with your bite. If non-surgical treatment is unsuccessful or if there is clear joint damage, surgery may be indicated which can involve either arthroscopy or repair of damaged tissue by a direct surgical approach.
Oral cancer
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons recommend that everyone perform an oral cancer self-exam each month. If you notice white or red patches, an abnormal lump, chronic sore throat or hoarseness or difficulty chewing or swallowing, you should contact your oral and maxillofacial surgeon. They will remove a section of tissue to perform a biopsy and accurately diagnose the problem.
Implants and Orthodontics
- Dental implants are long-term replacements for missing teeth that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. Composed of titanium metal that fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, dental implants never slip and never decay. Because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is generally not a problem. Often, braces are needed prior to implant placement to idealize the space for that implant, or fix teeth that may be tilting into the space where the implant is supposed to go. Dr. Lineberry will work closely with your restorative dentist and surgeon to ensure that orthodontics accomplishes the goals to ensure a successful implant placement.
Outpatient Anesthesia
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the ability to provide patients with safe, effective outpatient anesthesia including local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, IV sedation and general anesthesia. During their surgical residency, residents must complete a rotation on the medical anesthesiology service where they become competent in evaluating patients for anesthesia, delivering the anesthetic and monitoring post-anesthetic patients. Dr. Lineberry may refer you or your child to an oral surgeon if she feels that there is a procedure that needs to be done that may require sedation.
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