Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Facial reconstructive surgery is a type of dental surgery which is used to improve the appearance of facial structure. It can help treat impact injuries, trauma, congenital conditions, and other defects that may have affected the face, including the bone structure, jaw, or ears. The surgery can also be used to help treat facial disfigurement due to cancer, tumor removal, or other diseases. When considering facial reconstructive surgery, an accurate assessment must be made of the facial structure prior to the procedure. This typically includes a head and neck examination, imaging of the face, and dental x-rays. Depending on the cause of the disfigurement, other evaluations may be necessary as well. A prosthodontist, craniofacial surgeon, and plastic surgeon may need to be part of the team to properly assess the needs and available treatments. The most common procedure used in facial reconstructive surgery is bone grafting. This is when donor bone is transplanted to the face and/or jawbone to rebuild areas that were impacted. This is a complex surgery that requires meticulous planning and precise placement of the transplanted bone. Maxillofacial prosthetics are another type of facial reconstructive surgery. These prostheses, or artificial devices, are used to replace facial features that were lost due to tumor or trauma or deformities. In some cases, these prostheses may be highly specialized, such as external ear prostheses, in which the device is custom-designed to precisely fit the patient’s individual anatomy. Facial reconstructive surgery can significantly improve quality of life for many individuals. It can provide a more natural facial appearance and help restore the patient’s ability to carry out everyday activities with much greater ease. The goal of the procedure is not to make cosmetic changes, but rather to help the patient regain functioning of lost facial structures. Facial reconstructive surgery is a complex process that requires a team of dental and medical professionals. The best results are achieved when the doctors have a detailed plan in place of how the procedure will be carried out and what kind of prosthetic devices will be used.