Maxillofacial surgery is a specialized branch of surgery that belongs to both medicine and dentistry. It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, deformities, and injuries of the head, neck, face, and oral cavity.

If a tumor on the face or in the oral cavity is detected in time, a correct diagnosis and timely treatment can be determined. During diagnosis, it is necessary to perform a detailed patient anamnesis, as well as a clinical examination. Additional radiological diagnostics (ultrasound examination, OPT, CBCT, and MRI scans) are used to assess the disease’s progression and create a further treatment plan.

-diagnosis and treatment of tumors on the face, in the oral cavity, and on the neck

-diagnosis and treatment of injuries to the facial bones and jaws

-diagnosis and treatment of jaw and tooth fractures

-injuries to the soft tissues of the face and neck

-infections and complications of soft and bone tissue infections

-surgical corrections of jaw deformities and congenital skeletal jaw anomalies

-aesthetic and functional correction of facial and jaw asymmetries

-surgical preparation for making dentures (pre-prosthetic surgery)

-correction of bone anomalies that hinder the making of dentures

-diseases of the salivary glands

-inflammation of the salivary glands

-sialolithiasis (presence of stones in the excretory ducts and in the tissue itself, the parenchyma of the gland)

-inflammation of the maxillary sinus

-diseases of the cranial nerves (essential and symptomatic neuralgias) n. facialis n. hypoglossus n.trigeminus

-surgery of large bone and soft tissue cysts

-fistulas on the oral mucosa and gingiva

-fistulas on the skin of the face and neck

-congenital cysts and fistulas on the neck

-removal of moles and other changes on the skin of the face and neck

-aesthetic correction of the eyelids (blepharoplasty)

-operations on atheromas on the scalp, face, and neck

-biopsy and histopathological verification of the removed changes

Injuries of the bones of the face and jaw are frequent, and the method of treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. After an injury, a detailed anamnesis is taken regarding the location, time, and circumstances of the injury. Additional radiological diagnostics (Waters’ view of facial bones, zygomatic arch view, Klemenčić and Eisler’s view of the mandible, and CT of facial bones) are used to assess the severity of the injury and create a treatment plan. The treatment of facial and jawbone injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury.

For the diagnosis and treatment of jaw and tooth fractures, dentists and maxillofacial surgeons use specific methods to properly treat injuries of the jaw and teeth. The diagnoses for jaw and tooth fractures include painful or difficult opening of the mouth, pain while chewing, bleeding from the mouth or nose, and loosened teeth. If patients have these symptoms, a clinical examination is necessary, and then an X-ray in the form of a panoramic image and a retroalveolar tooth image. Jaw treatment can be conservative, and in more severe cases, it can be surgical. For tooth treatment, if it is a surface fracture, it can be resolved with a veneer or a composite filling, however, if the tooth nerve is damaged, treatment of root canal and the creation of non-metal crowns are needed. When a whole tooth is lost, implants are placed or dental bridges are made.

Injuries of the soft tissues of the face and neck can be minor, such as hematomas or cuts, or more severe, like deep lacerations and crush injuries accompanied by blood vessel damage and extensive bleeding. Treatment involves a thorough wound debridement, removal of necrotic tissue, stopping the bleeding, and suturing the wound with aesthetic intradermal sutures. It is mandatory to check antitetanus protection and administer adequate antibiotic therapy.

Infections of the maxillofacial region are relatively frequent. The most frequent starting point for an infection is from a tooth. Untreated tooth decay and chronic, untreated periodontitis are common causes. Complications can be severe and, in rare cases, can be life-threatening to the patient (phlegmon of the floor of the mouth and neck). The treatment is the extraction of the causative tooth, incisions and drainage, with an adequate antibiotic support.

Surgical corrections of jaw deformities and skeletal congenital jaw anomalies are specialized procedures for correcting aesthetic imperfections and functional problems. Orthognathic surgery aims to achieve a good functional and aesthetic result by repositioning the jaws. The treatment includes teamwork between an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon. Preoperative fixed orthodontic therapy creates the prerequisites for a successful surgical correction.

Aesthetic and functional corrections of facial and jaw asymmetries aim to address surgical procedures that target the asymmetrical structure of the face and jaw. Aesthetic corrections represent surgical procedures on the soft and bone tissues of the face and jaw, with which we correct an aesthetic defect and establish a symmetrical appearance of the face.

Surgical preparation for prosthesis fabrication refers to particular procedures designed to provide a stable and functional environment for placing a prosthesis. The ultimate goal is to achieve an aesthetic and functional result. What needs to be paid attention to is the removal of excess soft tissue and bone growths.