Introduction to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty that deals with the diagnosis, the surgical and the related treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the oral and maxillofacial regions (mouth, teeth, jaws and facial structures). An oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs extractions of teeth, placement of dental implants, treatment of oral tumors, repairs facial fractures and major reconstructive procedures for developmental, congenital and esthetic problems involving the oral and facial region.

Dr. Hunt is board certified, which means that he is highly qualified to diagnose, manage and treat conditions that affect the teeth, mouth, jaw and face.

His expertise includes dental extractions (including wisdom tooth removal), trauma of the jaw and face, and a full range of dental implant procedures.

Dr. Hunt can also remove non-cancerous and cancerous growths, and treat dental facial-related deformities by performing Orthognathic and Reconstructive Surgery to improve jaw function and aesthetics. He also offers a full range of facial cosmetic surgery procedures.

What Is Board-Certified?

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are dentists and sometimes also physicians like Dr. Hunt, who have furthered their education with four or more years of additional residency in surgery, medicine and anesthesia. This extensive program is based in a major medical center and involves all aspects of diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the teeth, mouth, jaws, and face. Board certification has to be renewed every 10 years to ensure current knowledge and skills.

After graduating from dental school, he spent an additional four years or more in the hospital and university setting. He received graduate training in other disciplines, including general surgery, plastic surgery, ENT surgery, internal medicine, and pathology. He also completed extensive training in anesthesiology. In order to become board certified after training, a candidate must complete an application and examination process, including a thorough written qualifying exam and then a rigorous oral certifying exam.