What Does Maxillofacial Mean?

Maxillofacial means relating to the jaws and the face. The word joins maxilla, the Latin term for the upper jaw bone, with facial. In medicine and dentistry it describes the area that includes both jaws, the facial bones, the teeth and the soft tissue of the mouth and face.

Where does the word maxillofacial come from?

The maxilla is the bone that forms your upper jaw. Your lower jaw is the mandible. Maxillofacial covers both of them and the bones and tissues that connect them to the rest of the face. That is why a maxillofacial surgeon can treat problems that start in a tooth, a jaw joint or a facial bone.

Is it maxillofacial, maxilofacial or faciomaxillary?

You will see several spellings online, including maxilofacial, maxilo facial, maxillo-facial and faciomaxillary. They all point to the same area of the body. The standard spelling is maxillofacial, written as one word with two Ls.

What parts of the body does maxillofacial cover?

• The upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible)
• The temporomandibular joints (TMJ), where the jaw meets the skull
• The facial bones, including the cheekbones and eye sockets
• The teeth, gums and the bone that holds them
• The soft tissue of the mouth, tongue and face

What conditions are called maxillofacial?

Common maxillofacial conditions include:

• Impacted wisdom teeth and other teeth that cannot erupt on their own
• Missing teeth and jaw bone loss, treated with dental implants and bone grafting
• Jaws that do not line up, addressed with jaw surgery
• Jaw joint pain and clicking, covered under TMJ disorders
• Broken facial bones and injuries, treated as facial trauma
• Cysts, growths and other changes in the mouth, evaluated through oral pathology

Who treats maxillofacial problems?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is the specialist trained for this area. They begin as dentists, then complete a hospital-based surgical residency. We explain that training in is a maxillofacial surgeon a dentist or a doctor, and describe the specialty in what is maxillofacial surgery. For a deeper look at training and scope, read our maxillofacial surgeon training and scope guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is maxillofacial the same as oral surgery?

They overlap. Oral surgery is the common name. The formal specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery, which also includes the jaws, jaw joints and facial bones.

What does maxillofacial mean in simple words?

It means anything involving the jaws and face.

Does maxillofacial include the teeth?

Yes. Teeth, gums and the jaw bone that supports them are part of the maxillofacial region.

See a maxillofacial surgeon in Bergen County

Premier Oral + Maxillofacial Surgery has offices in Englewood Cliffs, Bergenfield and Ho-Ho-Kus. If you have jaw, tooth or facial concerns, contact our team to schedule a visit.