Maxillofacial Surgery

Most people’s experience with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is for minor procedures performed in the mouth.  These procedures include wisdom tooth extractions, biopsies, trimming areas of soft tissue and bone and dental implants.  This is within the scope of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon but the dental specialty has a much broader scope.  Maxillofacial surgery means surgery between the eyes and neck.
As oral and Maxillofacial surgeons, Dr. Tracy and Dr. Monson correct upper and lower jaw misalignment that is developmental or caused by trauma or tumors. This surgery can improve chewing by aligning the teeth and jaws properly, and it can also have cosmetic benefits as the following pictures illustrate.

Another aspect of the specialty is the treatment of facial trauma.  The treatment may be as simple as suturing facial lacerations, to the more complex treatment of fractures of the facial bones (lower jaw, upper jaw, nose, cheekbones) and reconstruction of victims of severe facial trauma.

Drs. Monson and Tracy commonly see young people who have had a tooth knocked out or broken their jaw during athletics or riding a bicycle or skateboard.  Time is of the essence in these injuries, so you will want to call Carlsbad Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as soon as possible.  If a tooth has been knocked out, place it in milk and immediately call our office.