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Advances in Maxillofacial Surgery

Advances in Maxillofacial Surgery

Edited by: TOP DOCTORS® at 16/11/2023

The most severe cases are addressed by displacing the facial bones forward to widen the airway.

Dental Implants

Oral disability is a common issue among individuals over 65 years old. It is estimated that one in five people in this age group is completely edentulous. For such cases, Dental Implant Surgery has made remarkable advances, making it possible nowadays to replace dentures with fixed teeth in just one day.

One of the latest technological advancements in this field is Minimally Invasive Guided Implantology, a technique that allows for nearly surgery-free and precise implant placement, yielding not only good results but also significantly reducing inflammation and pain.

The most challenging cases remain those where there is insufficient bone to anchor the implants. While bone grafts are an option, a new technique has emerged, involving the placement of implants in the bone beneath the cheekbones, known as Zygomatic Implants. This enables the placement of fixed teeth even in cases where bone loss is almost complete.

Orthognathic Surgery

Orthognathic Surgery involves operating on the facial bones to achieve improvements in appearance and smile. Typically, these interventions are performed on patients with malocclusion, meaning a misalignment of the teeth. Apart from achieving a perfect smile, there are significant facial benefits as the goal is to restore harmony among different facial zones.

To obtain the best results, pre-surgery studies are conducted using photographs and 3D images of the patient, obtained with modern low-radiation scanners. These tests are input into a computer, where they are analyzed using specific 3D technology-based programs. This allows for a precise determination of the current position of the bones and their impact on different parts of the face.

The same program allows us to modify the position of the facial bones until normal values are established. This way, we can approximate how the new face will look after the operation.

Benefits of New Technologies

Applying this technology to surgery has reduced the duration of operations, simplified procedures, and shortened hospital stays, making these types of operations increasingly common.

How is Orthognathic Surgery performed?

A standard operation is conducted under general anesthesia, lasting between 2 and 4 hours and requiring a hospital stay of about 24-48 hours. The greatest benefit for the patient is that the postoperative period involves minimal pain and variable inflammation that disappears within a period of 7 to 10 days.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious problem, and recent studies have shown that severe cases have a four times higher mortality rate than individuals without sleep apnea. The solution is to sleep connected to a machine called CPAP, which introduces pressure into the airway. However, some people do not tolerate it well, and others simply do not want to spend their entire lives connected to a machine.

In these cases, Orthognathic Surgery is an effective technique to address almost all situations. The most severe cases are resolved by moving the facial bones forward to widen the airway, leveraging 3D planning to calculate the maximum movement without compromising the physical appearance.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Cuautitlán Izcalli