Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery - Costa Rica Dental Guide to Best Dentists

Oral Surgery Maxillofacial surgery refers to any surgery that involves the jaw and the face. In dentistry, maxillofacial surgery involves a number of dental procedures. Each procedure is planned to address the unique needs of each patient. The type of surgery, the length of the surgery, the length of the recovery from the surgery, and the preparation for the surgery will vary accordingly.

Before undergoing surgery, you should talk with a qualified maxillofacial surgeon who will perform the surgery. You should understand why the procedure needs to be done, what the objective of the surgery is, and what exactly will happen during the surgery.

In addition, you should ask your maxillofacial surgeon how to prepare for the surgery and how long it will take you to fully recover. It is a good idea to inform the surgeon of any medications you are currently taking or any health conditions you may have, as they can interfere with the surgery.

The most common maxillofacial surgeries performed in dentistry are:

Tooth extractions
Dental implants
All-on-4 solutions
All-on-6 solutions
All-on-8 solutions
Bone grafts
Maxillary Osteotomy
Mandibular Osteotomy
Geniotomy Chin Repositioning Surgery

If you are interested in maxillofacial surgery in Costa Rica, please fill out the “Help me Find a Dentist!” form. A participating specialist will reply to your needs.

If you are interested in oral & maxillofacial surgery in Costa Rica, fill out the “Find a Dentist” form on this page. One of our patient advocates will reply to your needs.

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Jaw Surgery

5 January 2015

Jaw surgery refers to any kind of surgery that involves the upper or lower jawbone. In dentistry, jaw surgery is typically either a pre-requisite for a procedure or a step in the process of a procedure. Jaw surgery is often performed in the dentist’s office and the patient is usually able to leave the clinic on his or her feet, although not able to drive. It involves the use of anesthesia to avoid pain and there may be discomfort after the surgery. Sometimes, painkillers will be given for the patient to use after the anesthesia has worn off. Preparation for jaw surgery will greatly depend on the purpose of the surgery. In some cases, little to no preparation is needed, while with some surgeries, the patient will need to modify his or her diet, medications, and other factors before surgery. Here are the most common types of procedures that involve jaw surgery. 1. Tooth Extractions Sadly, in cases of extreme damage or infection, it may not be possible to save a tooth. In these cases, the tooth must be pulled out before it infects or damages the other teeth, or in order to insert a replacement. Anesthesia allows patients to […]

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Mandibular Tori Surgery

30 March 2015

Mandibular tori surgery is a rather uncommon oral surgery procedure, consisting of the removal of bone in the mouth. This surgery has proven to greatly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from this excess jaw bone. As with most oral surgery, the cost in the US may be prohibitively high, whereas a qualified and experience dentist in Costa Rica can often help more affordably. The term mandibular tori is the plural form of mandibular torus. In simple terms, a mandibular torus is simply a bone that grows inside the mouth, typically between the lower premolars and the tongue. In most cases, the bone grows in both sides of the mouth, which is why most dentists refer to the issue as mandibular tori. There are several factors that cause the growth of mandibular tori. While genetic disposition is one, mandibular tori is often present in cases where there is teeth grinding or clenching, a situation known among dentists as bruxism. Because of this, it is believed that stress is also a factor. Fortunately, in most cases, mandibular tori is not a problem and doesn’t need any treatment. However, some patients may need to have their mandibular tori removed. This […]

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

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Mandibular Osteotomy

15 April 2015

In movies, especially in the older movies of the black and white era, you commonly see that one character with huge teeth that stick out, or a funny shaped brace on his teeth, for comic relief. While that may be funny on actors who are clearly faking a huge overbite (or under bite, whatever the role asks for), it is most definitely not a fun thing in real life. People who have jaw misalignment suffer from serious physical and psychological health issues as a result of the problem. Because of the clearly visible nature of the misalignment, located on the face, jaw disorders are critical for health and self-esteem. When a person has a significant difference in the alignment of the upper and lower jaws, it causes ‘malocclusion’ or improper and incomplete closure of the jaws. In addition, once the baby or milk teeth have fallen out, the permanent teeth that replace them may be permanently restructured in keeping with the alignment of the upper and lower jaws. This leads to lifelong problems with closing the mouth, such as problems in speaking clearly, difficulty in eating normally, and obvious cosmetic issues. Growing through the teen years and early adulthood with […]

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

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TMJ Disorder: Jaw Pain and Dislocations

7 May 2015

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a mouth joint located in front of the ear. It is common for patients to have discomfort such as popping or clicking, pain and tenderness in this joint. Your dentist is responsible for diagnosing the nature of the disorder and providing a treatment plan. The joint is composed of the lower jaw bone which connects to the bone at the base of the skull. A fibro cartilaginous disk (a disk comprised of tissue fiber and cartilage) divides both bones, softening their contact. A set of ligaments and muscles surround the joint and keep the disk and bone in place. TMJ disorder occurs when the bone and the cartilage disk are not able to move properly, restricting movement, causing irritating joint noise, or inducing painful movement of the jaw. The severity of the TMJ disorder is measured by the amount of work required to return the jaw disk to its original position. Symptoms are noticeable with pain and sounds (clicking and grinding). The joint and bones associated with the TMJ can be affected negatively by other ailments. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, pseudogout and lupus can affect the TMJ. Osteoporosis affects the bone and degenerates the […]

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

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Teeth Grinding: Should You Use a Mouthpiece?

12 May 2015

What is Bruxism Bruxism refers to excessive clenching or grinding of the teeth. It is a neuromuscular disorder that often presents itself when the patient is asleep. The cause of bruxism is not always clear, but it is widely understood that psychological stress is a root cause. This condition causes debilitating facial muscle pain and discomfort around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Teeth grinding wears away the tooth structure to the point where the surfaces of teeth appear flat and discolored, exposing the yellow inner layer (dentin). This is called attrition. Bruxism can cause permanent dental lesions creating the need for root canals and crowns, exacerbating periodontal conditions and even causing tooth loss. Other symptoms like headaches, earaches and jaw pain are common. Complications like eating disorders, insomnia, teeth fractures, receding gum line, and depression can also be expected. Patients who suffer from bruxism have a hard time getting dental restorations because the materials are rapidly worn away. This is why bruxism must be treated before dental restorations are considered. The use of a mouthpiece or mouth guard is of great help and patients normally report tremendous relief. The mouthpiece is a guard for the teeth usually made of hard plastic […]

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Preventive Orthodontics

3 June 2015

Preventive and Interceptive Orthodontics Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry specialized in the diagnosis, prevention and correction of improper positioning of teeth and jaws. Proper diagnosis should be made during the first few years of the patient’s life. Many preventive treatments usually begin around six years of age. Orthodontists use clinical observation and X-rays to diagnose conditions already established. But also, they study the patterns of growth in the young patient to predict potential bad alignment of teeth as well as disproportionate jaw growth. This way it is possible to prevent future complex cases or to stop them in time when they are developing. This is called the preventive or interceptive orthodontics phase. Early Tooth Loss One of the most common orthodontic dental problems in children is losing one or more temporary teeth too early. Losing teeth is a potential problem because the surrounding teeth start to fill in the empty space, becoming tilted, failing to contact properly with the opposing tooth, and reducing the space in the gums for the teeth that haven’t come in yet. Depending on the case, an orthodontic appliance needs to be used to prevent the remaining teeth from tipping, and also to straighten them […]

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Orthodontics

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Better Healing with Platelet Therapy

3 February 2016

Use Your Own Healing Power to Heal with Platelet Rich Fibrin Therapy Tooth loss and damage to the jaw bone and tissues are often challenging for your dentist during oral surgery or implant placement. The healing of the gums and oral tissues is difficult to control with consistency. New procedures and resources to improve oral healing focused on platelet therapy are being pioneered in Costa Rica. Platelets are used extensively and constantly investigated in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The objective is to gather platelet growth factors and to inject them at the surgical site to stimulate the patient’s healing process. A technology called leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) allows for the preparation of robust fibrin membranes enriched with cells (activated platelets, leukocytes, circulating cells) and platelet growth factors to help dental patients heal faster. Healing properties that promote recovery This effective natural biomaterial is free of additives. No anticoagulant is used during the blood harvest. No chemicals are used for activation. It is easy, low-priced, and quick to formulate (15 minutes for all steps). This method is specifically developed to the practical needs in day-to-day implant dentistry. Several articles have reported the use of these L-PRF membranes for the stimulation […]

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Improve Your Breathing with a Maxillary Sinus Lift

7 September 2019

The maxillary sinus is a cavity located within the cheek bone. It is a pyramid-shaped, growing space with a membrane lining the sinus called the Schneider Membrane. The ends of the roots of the upper back teeth are close to the maxillary sinus and in some cases, even inside of it. The maxillary sinus helps in moisturizing and heating up the air when breathing. It plays an important role in vocal resonance and diminishing the weight of the head. A baby’s maxillary sinus is almost nonexistent. As opposed to an elder person whose sinus is expected to be large. The maxillary sinus’ volume in an adult is 15mL, growing an average of 2mm per year. The natural process of sinus enlargement is called pneumatization. Who needs a Sinus Lift? After losing one or more teeth in the upper jaw, the maxillary sinus grows in size even further from the normal limits. This is because the bone in the sockets reabsorbs itself when there are no longer teeth to support. Implants need bone to support them. X-rays allow the visualization of the remaining bone’s thickness. A minimum of 5mm is required to consider placing dental implants. One can receive a maxillary […]

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Surgical Guides Aid in Best Placement of Dental Implants

7 April 2021

When choosing a clinic for dental implants in Costa Rica, many patients focus only on price. Most clinics offer similar pricing for implants, with a range of only $100-$200 in difference per implant. If you focus only on price, you will miss out on providers that promise better processes, reduced pain and higher quality results. But quality isn’t simply about paying more for materials. Partnering with a reputable dental lab is also critical. Dental clinics with onsite dental labs ensure an improved patient experience by offering faster results, improved communication and quality control. Differences in Dental Technology There are significant differences in dental technology that separate leading clinics from the rest of the followers. For example, not all dentists use “surgical guides” to aid in making highly precise placement of dental implants. A surgical guide is produced from digital images of a patient’s teeth and bone structure. The device fits over the implant area and controls the precise location, angle and depth of drilling for insertion of dental implants. This is a recommended approach because it both minimizes the amount of surgery required and speeds healing. Using a surgical guide avoids many of the complications that sometimes happen when dentists […]

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