It is a special type of surgery performed to correct the changes in facial structure and skeleton including the jaws
and oral cavity. It also helps to correct congenital facial disproportion, facial trauma, oral cancer, salivary gland
disease, temporomandibular joint disorders, and various benign pathologies
Facial Trauma: Also called maxillofacial trauma, is any physical trauma to the face. Facial trauma can
involve soft tissue injuries such as burns, lacerations and bruises, or fractures of the facial bones such as nasal
fractures and fractures of the jaw, as well as trauma such as eye injuries. Symptoms are specific to the type of
injury; for example, fractures may involve pain, swelling, loss of function, or changes in the shape of
facial structures
Salivary gland disease: The salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps our mouth moist, helps protect your
teeth from rapid decay, and helps us to digest our food. The salivary glands are relatively small, and they’re around
the inner linings of our mouth, lips, and cheeks
A number of diseases can affect the salivary glands. These range from cancerous tumors to Sjögren’s syndrome. While
some conditions go away with time or antibiotics, others require more serious treatments, including surgery
Sjogren’s syndrome is a common salivary gland disorder. It occurs when white blood cells target healthy cells in
moisture-producing glands, such as the salivary, sweat, and oil glands. This condition most commonly affects women
with autoimmune disorders, such as lupus
Temporomandibular joint disorders:The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge, connecting the jawbone
to the skull. We have one joint on each side of the jaw. TMJ disorders can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the
muscles that control jaw movement
The exact cause of a person's TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. The pain may be due to a combination of
factors, such as genetics, arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their
teeth (bruxism), although many people habitually clench or grind their teeth and never develop TMJ disorders