Oral surgery is the area of medicine concerned with correcting problems or damage to the mouth, teeth and jaw. It is often referred to as "Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery" which combines oral surgery with surgery on the structures of the face, sinuses and neck.
Oral surgery is commonly performed to remove wisdom teeth, prepare the mouth for dentures, repair jaw problems and perform root canals. Oral surgeons may also perform more advanced procedures as required after trauma or severe disease damages the structures of the mouth.
Maxillofacial is the area of surgery that deals with problems of the face, head, neck, jaw and sinuses. Maxillofacial surgeons are typically trained in oral surgery as well, so some surgeons are referred to as Oral & Maxillofacial specialists.
Unique in the world of surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgeons may be educated as doctors of dentistry or doctors of medicine, depending on the country of practice.
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