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Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

From dental implants to cleft lip and palate surgery, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide comprehensive care for the whole family.

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Oral and maxillofacial surgery at Geisinger

Whether you have dental implant discomfort, jaw pain or head or neck cancer that requires surgery, our team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons will care for you with skill, compassion and the latest treatments.

What are oral and maxillofacial surgeons?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat conditions related to the face, mouth and jaws — both the soft and hard tissues. They create full care plans that fit your unique condition and needs. 

Their extensive, specialized training prepares them to handle emergency procedures and deliver the most complex treatment plans — from nonsurgical to surgical treatment.

Our team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Pennsylvania offers a full range of treatments, including:

  • Dental implants
  • In-office sedation 
  • Orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery)
  • Care for facial and oral trauma and injuries
  • Care for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and facial pain
  • Treatment for oral, head and neck cancer and pathology
  • Face and jaw reconstruction
  • Salivary gland surgery
  • Cleft lip and palate repair
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment
Oral and maxillofacial surgery at Geisinger

Ready to schedule an appointment?

Call 800-275-6401

Dental implants

If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist may recommend dental implants. 

How do dental implants work?  

A dental implant acts as an artificial tooth root. Your jawbone fuses with the implant to provide a secure platform for a prosthesis (such as an artificial tooth or an entire denture). Dental implants consist of three parts:

  1. Implant (screw): Acts as an artificial root
  2. Abutment: Connects the implant to the prosthesis
  3. Prosthesis: The visible part that looks like natural teeth  

Types of dental prosthesis

Depending on how many teeth you’re missing, you may have a single, partial or complete prosthesis. The more teeth that need to be replaced, the more implants you will need. For most people, a permanent prosthesis won’t be made until the jawbone has fused to the implants. Until then, a temporary prosthesis may be used: 

  • Single prosthesis: This is used to replace a missing tooth. One implant is all that’s needed for support. 
  • Partial prosthesis: This replaces two or more teeth. Two or three implants are used for support. 
  • Complete denture prosthesis: This replaces all the teeth in an upper or lower jaw, or both. The type of prosthesis (removable or fixed) determines the number of implants needed:
    • Removable: Connected to implants via devices like clips and bars, allowing easy removal for cleaning, typically supported by 4 to 6 implants.
    • Fixed: Permanently attached to a frame secured to the implants, requiring four or more implants. They can only be taken out by a dentist.

Types of dental implants

Different types of implants are available, including:

  • Single dental implant: Ideal when one tooth is missing, and you want to replace it for aesthetics, comfort and function. It replaces the tooth with a crown attached to the implant.
  • Implant-supported bridges: Ideal for several missing teeth, using implants (instead of natural teeth) as anchors.
  • Fixed dental bridge: Helps maintain alignment of surrounding teeth, improving eating and speaking and aesthetics.
  • Implant-retained overdenture: Uses multiple implants to secure a full denture, enhancing stability and preventing the denture from becoming dislodged.
  • Full-mouth implants: A comprehensive solution for extensive tooth loss, providing a permanent, screw-retained prosthesis that can be removed by a dentist for maintenance.

Other types of implants and prosthetics are used in certain situations. Your provider will assess your needs and give you options so you can choose the treatment plan that’s best for you.  

TMJ treatments

If you have jaw pain, difficulty chewing or a clicking or locking of your jaw joint, you might have a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. It may be caused by arthritis, a jaw injury or excessive teeth grinding. 

TMJ treatment varies, ranging from self-managed care and physical therapy to medicine or surgery. 

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons can help evaluate what’s causing your discomfort and create a treatment plan that works for you.

Learn about TMJ treatments

Facial injuries and trauma

Oral and facial trauma includes a range of injuries that can affect your mouth, jaws, face and neck. These can result from things like playing sports, car accidents, falls or burns. 

Whether repairing a fractured jaw, repositioning teeth or addressing soft tissue injuries, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in handling the complexities of facial injuries. 

We use the latest techniques, including minimally invasive procedures, to help restore both function and aesthetics. Our goal is to guide you through the healing process, so you can regain your confidence and improve your quality of life. 

Learn about facial surgery

Cleft lip and palate repair

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions that affect a baby’s upper lip or roof of mouth. They can cause challenges with feeding, speech and hearing. 

If your child was born with a cleft palate or cleft lip, our surgeons can correct their condition with surgery that has them back home in just a few days.

As an approved cleft team by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, we’re committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and support for you and your child. 

Learn about cleft lip and palate surgery

 

Innovative solutions

Our jaw and facial specialists offer leading-edge treatments backed by the expertise of a nationally recognized health system.

Care close to home

With locations throughout northeast, central and south-central Pennsylvania, you don’t have to travel far for the latest treatments.

Minimally invasive surgery

We use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. This means smaller surgical incisions, shorter recovery and a faster return to your daily activities.

Advanced sleep apnea treatments

Our team is trained in advanced treatment methods for obstructive sleep apnea, including the implanted Inspire® therapy device.

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