Corrective vs. Cosmetic Surgery From Oral Surgeon

Maxillofacial and oral surgeons restore function to the mouth and jaw through tooth extractions and jaw surgeries. However, some of their procedures focus on enhancing the appearance of the face. Nasal reconstruction is a common example. While these procedures differ, both strive to improve a patient’s quality of life and oral health.

The difference between corrective and cosmetic surgery

Corrective and cosmetic surgery differ in purpose and necessity. Corrective surgery is any oral surgery considered medically necessary to maintain patient health, such as a root canal. On the other hand, cosmetic surgery is concerned with the aesthetics of the face and is considered elective.

Cosmetic surgery is not to be confused with reconstructive surgery. While both focus on appearance, reconstructive surgery is medically necessary because it is necessary to restore areas of the mouth, jaw, or face that went through an operation. For example, corrective jaw surgery may require following up with jawbone reconstructive surgery to prevent the jaw from shrinking.

Types of corrective oral surgery

Unfortunately, countless issues can arise with the mouth, jaw, and face as a whole. It follows that there are many types of corrective oral surgery. Some of the most common include the following procedures:

• Tooth extraction: This procedure surgically removes problem teeth, such as wisdom teeth that cannot erupt properly (impacted teeth).
• Periodontal surgery: This procedure treats gum disease (periodontitis) and involves pulling back the gum tissue, cleaning the tooth roots, and then repositioning the gum tissue.
• Dental implant surgery: This procedure replaces missing teeth with artificial tooth roots (dental implants) and artificial teeth (dental crowns).
• Corrective jaw surgery: This procedure corrects abnormalities in the jawbone. It may be done for various reasons, such as to shift the jaw into proper alignment, treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ syndrome), and restore chewing function, speech, and swallowing ability.
• Dental bone grafts: This procedure involves restoring a loss of jawbone density and volume. This may be done to qualify for dental implants or tooth extraction, as well as to rebuild the jaw after using dentures or experiencing severe gum disease.
• Cleft lip repair: This procedure corrects a cleft lip, a birth defect in which the upper lip is split. The oral surgeon will first detach the lip muscle and then reposition it to restore full use of the lip.

When surgery is cosmetic

There are many types of cosmetic surgery. The most common cosmetic procedures performed by maxillofacial and oral surgeons include cheekbone implants, lip enhancements, nasal reconstruction, and chin surgery. While a plastic surgeon may also perform these procedures, maxillofacial and oral surgeons will do so with extra attention to how the function of the mouth and jaw will be affected.