Expert Surgical Care for Facial, Jaw, & Oral Conditions
At Botshilu, our maxillofacial and oral surgeons specialise in the surgical treatment of facial injuries, jaw problems, complex dental conditions, and oral diseases requiring surgical intervention.
You don’t need to travel far from home for specialist facial surgery or accept permanent facial deformity from trauma; experienced maxillofacial surgeons providing comprehensive surgical care are available right here.
Our Maxillofacial & Oral Surgeon
Medical Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Please consult with a qualified cardiothoracic surgeon for diagnosis and treatment recommendations specific to your condition.
What Our Maxillofacial Surgeons Treat
Facial Trauma & Fractures
Injuries from:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Assault
- Sports injuries
- Falls
- Industrial accidents
Common Facial Fractures:
- Mandible (lower jaw) fractures
- Maxilla (upper jaw) fractures
- Zygomatic (cheekbone) fractures
- Orbital (eye socket) fractures
- Nasal fractures (complex cases)
- Multiple facial fractures (panfacial trauma)
Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery)
Correcting Jaw Misalignment:
- Severe underbite or overbite
- Jaw asymmetry
- Open bite (teeth don’t meet)
- Receding or protruding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, or breathing
Impacted & Problematic Teeth
Wisdom Teeth (Third Molars):
- Impacted wisdom teeth (can’t erupt properly)
- Partially erupted, causing infection
- Causing crowding or damaging adjacent teeth
- Cysts are developing around impacted teeth
- Surgical extraction under local or general anaesthetic
Other Impacted Teeth:
- Canines (eye teeth) requiring surgical exposure and orthodontic guidance
- Supernumerary teeth (extra teeth)
Complex Dental Extractions:
- Broken teeth with roots in bone
- Teeth broken at the gum line
- Extractions in medically complex patients
- Extractions requiring bone removal
Oral Pathology
Surgical Removal of:
- Jaw cysts (fluid-filled sacs in the jawbone)
- Oral tumours (benign and malignant)
- Suspicious lesions requiring biopsy
- Salivary gland tumours
- Tongue or mouth floor lesions
Diagnosis and Treatment:
- Biopsy of suspicious areas
- Surgical excision with clear margins
- Reconstruction after tumour removal
- Coordination with oncologists for cancer treatment
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
- Chronic jaw pain
- Clicking or popping jaw
- Locked jaw (cannot open or close)
- TMJ dislocation
- Arthritis of TMJ
- Jaw injury or trauma
Dental Infections & Abscesses
Severe Dental Infections:
- Extensive dental abscess
- Facial cellulitis (spreading infection)
- Ludwig’s angina (life-threatening infection of mouth floor)
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
Surgical Treatment:
- Incision and drainage
- Removal of infected teeth
- Intravenous antibiotics
- Hospital admission when severe
These infections can be life-threatening if untreated, requiring emergency surgical intervention.
Facial Reconstruction
Reconstructing Facial Structures After:
- Cancer surgery (removing tumours)
- Severe trauma
- Congenital defects (cleft lip/palate, often paediatric cases)
- Previous surgery complications
- Gunshot or other penetrating injuries
Reconstruction Methods:
- Bone grafting
- Soft tissue reconstruction
- Dental implant placement
- Prosthetic rehabilitation
Dental Implant Surgery
Surgical Placement of Dental Implants:
- Single tooth replacement
- Multiple teeth replacement
- Full arch reconstruction
- Bone grafting for implant sites
- Sinus lifts (augmenting bone in the upper jaw)
Implants are titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone, serving as tooth roots for artificial teeth.
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
Preparing Mouth for Dentures:
- Removing excess bone or tissue
- Reshaping ridges
- Removing problematic roots
- Creating an optimal denture foundation
Other Conditions
- Facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia, surgical options when medications fail)
- Salivary gland problems (stones, blockages, infections)
- Oral injuries (lacerations, fractures, tooth avulsion)
- Biopsy of oral lesions
Understanding Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery
What Maxillofacial Surgeons Do:
Unlike dentists who treat teeth and gums non-surgically, or plastic surgeons who focus on aesthetic surgery, maxillofacial surgeons specialise in:
- Facial trauma surgery (broken facial bones)
- Jaw surgery (correcting misalignment, reconstruction)
- Complex dental surgery (impacted teeth, cysts, tumours)
- Facial reconstruction after cancer, trauma, or congenital defects
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint) surgery
- Oral pathology surgery (removing tumours, cysts, lesions)
- Severe dental infections requiring surgical drainage
They’re trained in both medicine and dentistry, uniquely qualified to treat conditions affecting hard tissues (bone, teeth) and soft tissues (skin, muscle, nerves) of face and mouth.
Why Choose Botshilu for Maxillofacial Surgery
Facial trauma, jaw problems, and complex oral conditions require specialist surgical expertise, training, experience, and facilities most dentists and GPs don’t have.
You don’t need to travel to central Pretoria or Johannesburg for maxillofacial surgery.
Specialist maxillofacial surgeons with modern operating theatres, advanced equipment, and comprehensive support services are available right here in Soshanguve, providing quality surgical care close to home, where family can support you easily.
Whether you’re facing emergency facial trauma, planning corrective jaw surgery, dealing with impacted wisdom teeth, or needing surgical treatment for oral pathology, expert maxillofacial surgical care is available in your community.
Expert surgical care for facial injuries, jaw problems, and oral conditions, restoring function, relieving pain, and rebuilding confidence through specialist maxillofacial surgery.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Concerns and Honest Answers
Dentists treat teeth and gums, usually non-surgically. Maxillofacial surgeons are medical and dental specialists performing surgery on face, jaws, and mouth, fractures, jaw surgery, complex extractions, tumours, reconstruction. They work in operating theatres under general anaesthetic for complex cases.
Both can do facial surgery, but their focus differs. Maxillofacial surgeons specialise in jaws, facial bones, teeth, and oral structures, trauma, jaw alignment, and dental surgery. Plastic surgeons focus more on soft tissues, skin, and aesthetic surgery. Some overlap exists (facial reconstruction). Complex cases may involve both.
Depends on procedure. Minor surgery (simple extractions) can use local anaesthetic with sedation. Major surgery (facial fractures, jaw surgery, extensive tumour removal) requires general anaesthetic in operating theatre.
Pain varies by procedure. Significant initially, managed with medications. Swelling often more bothersome than pain. Most patients find pain controlled with prescribed medications. Improves progressively over days to weeks.
Varies enormously. Simple extraction: few days. Jaw surgery: 6-12 weeks for bones to heal fully (though return to light activities earlier). Facial trauma: depends on injury severity. Surgeon provides specific timeline for your procedure.
Yes, swelling is normal and often significant after facial/jaw surgery. Peaks 2-3 days post-surgery, then gradually reduces over weeks. Ice packs, head elevation, and time help.
Diet restrictions depend on surgery. Liquid or soft diet often required initially, especially after jaw surgery. Surgeon and dietitian provide specific instructions. Most patients progress back to normal diet gradually over weeks.
Surgeons make incisions inside mouth when possible (no visible scars). When external incisions necessary, placed carefully to minimise visibility. Scars fade significantly over time.
Yes. Cannot drive after general anaesthetic. Need responsible adult to take you home and stay with you first 24 hours. Arrange help for several days after major surgery.
Modern jaw surgery usually uses plates and screws, avoiding jaw wiring. Some cases still require elastic bands limiting jaw movement during healing. Surgeon explains what's needed for your specific case.
Possibly, if apnoea is due to jaw structure. Not first-line treatment (CPAP preferred). Surgery considered when anatomy is problem and other treatments failed. Requires sleep study and assessment.