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Pediatric Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the surgical specialists of the dental profession. Pediatric surgeons have the additional training and experience needed to perform surgery on children.

  1. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

    • Oral and maxillofacial surgery is performed on pediatric patients to correct defects or repair injuries to the jaw, mouth, head and face. A child born with a cleft palate or a child hit in the face with a baseball during a game could require such surgery.

    Techniques

    • While performing oral and maxillofacial surgery on a pediatric patient, a surgeon must take into account the fact that the bones and tissues involved will continue to grow as the child ages, according to "Peterson's Principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery."

    Considerations

    • Children can be difficult to sedate safely for oral and maxillofacial surgery. One of the risks of undergoing surgery is an adverse reaction to anesthesia, which can range from nausea upon waking to depressed breathing and even death.

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