Frequent Questions about Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The following symptoms indicate the need to remove a wisdom tooth:

-Pain in the jaw.

-If the wisdom tooth causes dental crowding or damage to neighbouring teeth.

-If the wisdom tooth is infected.

-Inflammation of the gum surrounding the wisdom tooth.

-Bad breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth.

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and takes an average of 10 minutes. The surgery is very simple and painless and the patient can return to their normal life within a few hours after surgery. Following a wisdom tooth extraction, there is usually slight inflammation during the postoperative phase, which will disappear after a couple of days.

It is always advisable to remove the wisdom teeth before any symptoms or discomfort appear. This makes the postoperative phase easier and helps avoid any other complications.

There are several symptoms that can indicate a problem with the TMJ: bruxism, jaw pain, headaches and limited mouth opening, among others.

After carrying out a diagnosis, the maxillofacial specialist will indicate the most suitable treatment for each individual case.

When a temporomandibular joint problem can be resolved through physiotherapy, the number of sessions will depend on how long it takes for the symptoms to disappear. The patient will inform the specialist of their improvement.

This intervention is always carried out under local anaesthetic. It is a simple procedure that is completed in 15 minutes.

Harelip surgery can be carried out on babies over 3 months of age.

The anatomical structure of a child, and even that of an adolescent, is very different to that of an adult. The various parts of the facial skeleton and the soft tissue are not yet fully developed. Therefore, paediatric maxillofacial surgery requires special techniques.

The maxillofacial surgeon partially or completely removes the affected gland. The Maxillofacial Institute has developed a new, minimally invasive approach to removing parotid gland tumours which does not leave any scarring, in addition, we preserve the subcutaneous adipose muscle-aponeurotic flap to reduce the sinking of the operated area and reduce the incidence of Frey's syndrome (cutaneous sweating of the surgical bed when eating).

If you notice a lump or maxillofacial ulcer in the maxillofacial region that lasts for more than 15 days, you should consult a maxillofacial surgeon.

There are currently three types of treatment for tumours: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The combination of all three offers results with a good prognosis.

Both a physical examination and imaging techniques can give us an idea of what type of tumour it is. However, a histological study (of the cellular structure) is essential for a definitive diagnosis.

We use the term tumour to define any kind of “lump”. A histological study allows us to determine whether the tumour is benign or malignant.

Any lump or ulcer in the maxillofacial region that lasts for more than two weeks without improvement should be seen by a specialist.

There are currently three therapeutic weapons for treating tumours: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The combination of all three offers very encouraging results.

Reconstructive surgery is just as important as maxillofacial surgery after resection of the tumour. The patient must be able to resume their social functions, so facial reconstruction is the main aim of maxillofacial surgery. The specialists at the Maxillofacial Institute are experts in using minimally invasive techniques in reconstructive surgery.