Prosthodontics & Restorative Dentistry

Track 8 - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a surgical specialty that encompasses the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and adjunctive care of diseases, injuries, and defects affecting both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues in the oral and maxillofacial region. The temporomandibular joints (TMJs), which are crucial for jaw positioning, facial growth and development, function, dental occlusion, facial balance, and comfort, are key to overall stability. When TMJs are not healthy or stable, patients undergoing orthognathic (corrective jaw) surgery may experience suboptimal outcomes related to function, aesthetics, dental occlusion, skeletal stability, and pain. A review of 1,369 TMJ patients referred to Dr. Larry Wolford’s practice showed an age range of 8 to 76 years at initial evaluation, with 78% female and 22% male patients. Notably, 69% of these patients reported that their TMJ issues began during their teenage years, indicating that TMJ pathology is most common in teenage females, though symptoms may appear later in life.

• Dentoalveolar Surgery
• Surgical Correction of Maxillofacial Skeletal Deformities
• Gum Lift