Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg deals with all forms of bone and soft tissue trauma of the face and throat. All sorts of injuries are optimally treated in our clinic, from anterior tooth trauma in childhood up to complex fractures of the eye sockets, midface and mandible.

One focus of our clinic is the treatment and care of patients with cancers of the mouth, throat and lips as well as the facial skin.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, in cooperation with the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Department of Radiation Oncology, comprise the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF). Patient care takes place under the interdisciplinary umbrella of the CCCF. Treatment options are coordinated by a team in order to plan and carry out the best treatment possible.

Many misalignments of the teeth within the upper or lower jaw, as well as disorders in the relationship between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw, have their origin not only in a wrongly positioned tooth, but often in the incorrect positioning of the upper and/or lower jaw or facial skull (called orthognathism or dysgnathia). As a rule, extensive disorders of this kind require the combined treatment of specialists from the orthodontic as well as the oral and maxillofacial fields. Both disciplines coordinate in planning the course of treatment, and if necessary, correction via orthognathic surgery. For example the upper and/or lower jaw can be freed from its position and moved into a new, correct relationship to the opposing jaw. Surgical procedures like this, performed under general anesthesia, can nowadays generally take place during a short two- to three-day in-patient stay.

Today, experienced surgeons at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg employ modern, often minimally invasive and endoscope-assisted surgical procedures that enable a gentle relocation of the jaw, with stable long-term results. Specialized anesthetists and a competent, patient-centered care team in the wards and the operating room, look after patients during their stay in the clinic.

Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital malformations. Today there are very good interdisciplinary treatment methods to correct these malformations. Rehabilitation of the natural functions of nourishment, speech and hearing can now usually be achieved, allowing the affected child to develop undisturbed in a normal environment.

The complex surgical treatment of cleft lip and palate is a key focus of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, and due to gentler surgical procedures it can now be carried out just a few months after birth. Esthetically pleasing results are achieved through use of the latest surgical methods.

Esthetic and plastic facial surgery is another focus of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. We specialize in surgical procedures in the facial area.

Esthetic facial correction, employing both non-surgical and surgical methods, supports the patient's desire to appear healthy and youthful. This includes wrinkle treatment, scar correction, plastic surgery of the upper and lower eyelids, face lifts, profile correction and the treatment of congenital malformations.

The procedures in our department are carried out by experienced oral and maxillofacial surgery specialists who have an extra "plastic surgery" qualification. Modern diagnostic techniques, such as digital volume tomography, 3D photography and intra- and extra-oral 3D surface registration, form the basis for individual and predictable treatment planning. Together with the patient, we develop a personalized treatment plan.

In the Oral Implantology section of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, we offer the entire treatment spectrum of dental implantology. Treatment is carried out by specialists in the field of dental implantology in close collaboration with colleagues from the other areas of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and established associates.

Modern methods of three-dimensional imaging and digital planning of treatments are offered in cooperation with the Imaging and Implant Diagnostics section of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Please bring all available medical records (e.g. X-rays, allergy pass, CDs, bank transfers, findings, lists of medications) to the initial interview in our department.