What Is a Maxillofacial Surgeon and What Do They Do? When to See One
What an oral and maxillofacial surgeon does, how they differ from a general dentist and when it makes sense to see one in Costa Rica.
Short answer: an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a specialist who diagnoses and operates on problems of the mouth, teeth, jaws (lower jaw and upper jaw), the jaw joint and the face. It is a dental specialty with additional surgical training. They handle, for example, impacted wisdom teeth, dental implants (especially when there is little bone and it has to be rebuilt with guided bone regeneration), misaligned jaws and facial fractures.
What "maxillofacial" means
The word joins two areas:
- Maxillo: the jaws, that is, the mandible (lower bone) and the maxilla (upper bone where the upper teeth sit).
- Facial: the bones and tissues of the face.
Why it matters: the specialist doesn't work only "on the teeth" but on the bone that supports them and the structures around it: nerves, maxillary sinuses, muscles and the jaw joint.
What training a maxillofacial surgeon has
- 01Dental degree (dental surgeon).
- 02Specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery: several additional years of residency, with surgical practice in a hospital.
- 03Membership in the corresponding professional board, which in Costa Rica is the Colegio de Cirujanos Dentistas (College of Dental Surgeons).
Thanks to this hospital training, a maxillofacial surgeon can operate both in the office, with local anesthesia or sedation, and in the operating room, with general anesthesia.
What a maxillofacial surgeon does: main procedures
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Oral surgery | ExamplesRemoval of wisdom teeth and impacted teeth, complex extractions, apicoectomy, frenectomy |
| Implantology | ExamplesDental implants, fixed full arch (All-on-X), guided bone regeneration, bone grafts, sinus lift, zygomatic implants |
| Jaw deformities | ExamplesOrthognathic surgery for protruding, recessed or asymmetric jaws |
| Trauma | ExamplesFractures of the jaw, maxilla and orbit; teeth fractured or displaced by blows |
| Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) | ExamplesSurgical management of the joint, including replacement when indicated |
| Pathology | ExamplesBiopsies, cysts and benign tumors of the jaws, salivary glands |
| Infections | ExamplesInfections of dental origin that spread to the face or neck |
| Other | ExamplesCleft lip and palate, obstructive sleep apnea (surgical approach), buccal fat removal |
How it differs from other specialists
| Specialist | What they do | When they refer you to the maxillofacial surgeon |
|---|---|---|
| General dentist | What they doCleanings, cavities, fillings, crowns, simple extractions | When they refer you to the maxillofacial surgeonFor implants, especially if bone has to be rebuilt or regenerated; surgical extractions or lesions |
| Orthodontist | What they doMoves teeth with braces or aligners | When they refer you to the maxillofacial surgeonWhen the problem is in the bone and not just the teeth (orthognathic surgery) |
| Plastic surgeon | What they doCosmetic surgery of the soft tissues of the face and body | When they refer you to the maxillofacial surgeonWhen work on the jaws or the bite is needed |
| Otolaryngologist (ENT) | What they doEar, nose, throat | When they refer you to the maxillofacial surgeonIn some cases involving the airway, maxillary sinuses or apnea |
When it makes sense to see a maxillofacial surgeon
- You've been told your wisdom teeth are impacted or they cause pain and swelling.
- You lost one or several teeth and want to replace them with implants, especially if you were told you don't have enough bone or that it has to be regenerated.
- Your jaw is misaligned and orthodontics alone doesn't correct the bite.
- You had a blow to the face or feel your bite changed after trauma.
- You have pain or clicking in the jaw joint that doesn't improve with conservative treatment.
- You noticed a lesion, lump or spot in your mouth that doesn't heal in two weeks.
You don't always need a referral: you can book a consultation directly. If your dentist or orthodontist has already referred you, bring their note and your X-rays.
What to expect at the first visit
The consultation includes your medical history, a clinical exam and, when needed, imaging such as a panoramic X-ray or CT scan (CBCT). You leave with a diagnosis, treatment options and a written plan. More detail in what to expect at your first consultation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a maxillofacial surgeon a physician or a dentist?
- In Costa Rica, they are a dental surgeon with a specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Their training includes years of surgical residency in a hospital.
- What is the difference between a dentist and a maxillofacial surgeon?
- A general dentist treats teeth and gums in routine procedures. A maxillofacial surgeon specializes in surgery of the mouth, jaws and face, such as impacted wisdom teeth, dental implants and bone regeneration, or jaw correction.
- Do I need a referral to see a maxillofacial surgeon?
- Not always. You can book a consultation directly. If another specialist referred you, it helps to bring their note and your X-rays.
- Does a maxillofacial surgeon remove wisdom teeth?
- Yes. Wisdom teeth removal, especially for impacted teeth or those in contact with the nerve, is one of the most frequent procedures in the specialty.
- Does a maxillofacial surgeon operate in a hospital?
- It depends on the procedure. Many surgeries are done in the office with local anesthesia or sedation. The more complex ones, such as orthognathic surgery or facial fractures, are done in a hospital with general anesthesia.