ORAL HEALTH
Why don't people like going to the maxillofacial surgeon?
We know you don't like going to the maxillofacial surgeon, and this is possibly due to bad past experiences. That's why we want to tell you there is a solution for you, so you can keep taking care of your oral health and achieve a perfect smile.
Anxiety and fear of the maxillofacial surgeon
We know you don't like going to the maxillofacial surgeon — and it's probably due to a bad experience in the past. At David Martinez, Maxillofacial Surgeon, we understand that fear, and that's why we want to tell you how we make the process calmer so you can keep taking care of your oral health without fear.
It’s normal to feel anxious before an appointment with the dentist or maxillofacial surgeon: these are procedures that involve instruments and sounds that aren’t pleasant. That anxiety is often confused with dental phobia, a deeper fear built up from a history of bad experiences.
What is a maxillofacial surgeon for?
The most common reason for a visit is wisdom teeth: molars that come in at the back of the mouth and, having no room, can crowd the rest of the teeth. Another frequent reason is correcting the bite or anomalies in the jaw structure that affect facial harmony.
Maxillofacial surgery often works hand in hand with orthodontics: when a bite problem can't be solved with brackets or aligners alone, that's where surgery comes in. It also corrects deformities such as cleft lip and palate, treats benign tumors in the jaws, and handles emergencies from accidents that affect the bones that support the teeth.
How do I know if I need maxillofacial surgery?
The initial diagnosis is done in consultation, with photos and X-rays that help define the best solution for your case — whether that’s orthodontics alone, or a combination of orthodontics and surgery.
Our approach to reducing pain and anxiety
We aim for our patients to have the least possible postoperative pain, and that’s why support begins at the first consultation and continues through full recovery, resolving every question along the way.
We use 3D surgical modeling and planning: before operating, we simulate the procedure to anticipate results and perform the actual surgery using minimally invasive techniques. We complement recovery with diode laser and ultrasound therapy, aiming for less pain and a faster than average recovery. We no longer wire the jaw shut the way it was done years ago: our patients leave the procedure able to open their mouth normally.
How do you overcome fear of the dentist?
The first step is recognizing that the anxiety or fear exists, and understanding what causes it. The second is building a relationship of trust with your dental team, moving forward step by step according to your own needs. Much of the fear of a maxillofacial surgeon comes from associating it only with painful surgeries — and often, with the experience of wisdom teeth — without allowing room for an initial consultation where your real questions get answered.
Learning about and researching before your appointment is the first step to losing that fear. Many procedures to improve jaw position don't require major surgical intervention, and knowing that beforehand helps reduce anxiety.
A good relationship with your maxillofacial surgeon and the rest of the office team has a lot to do with the level of trust that’s built — and with that, the whole process becomes easier to go through.
If fear has kept you away from the maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. David Martinez and his team, with over 10 years of experience, are with you from the first consultation through your recovery, even after the procedure is finished. Book your appointment in Bogota or Cajica.
Written and reviewed by
David Martinez, Maxillofacial Surgeon
Expert and pioneering maxillofacial surgeon, with over 10 years of experience supporting patients with fear or anxiety about the dentist, with an approach focused on the least pain possible. Graduate of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
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