Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Hospital Dentistry

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Clinics

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry is a multidisciplinary hospital and office-based practice at the Indiana University School of Dentistry and IU Health University Hospital. Our Department provides the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery specialty care, guided by our mission to excel in patient care, teaching and education while promoting research and community engagement throughout Indiana and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality of care with integrity and compassion to every patient, in an environment of inclusion and belonging.

The department is committed to:

  • Providing dedicated service to the oral health community.
  • Being a global leader in specialty education and patient care to positively impact the wellbeing of the community.
  • Fostering an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Hospital Dentistry is responsible for didactic and clinical instruction, and the education of the next generation of oral health professionals. Our faculty have a keen interest in predoctoral and postgraduate education, as the only Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program in the state of Indiana.

Scope of Practice

The Department is capable of providing a wide range of anesthetic techniques to produce pain and anxiety control, which includes local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and intravenous sedation depending on the complexity of the surgical procedure. A patient is completely conscious when receiving local anesthesia alone. When a patient receives nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation, the patient is still conscious, but the gas induces a state of relaxation while assisting in pain control. Intravenous (IV) sedation ranges in depth from moderate to deep sedation, which produces a more profound level of anesthesia resulting in varying degrees of unconsciousness. A patient may be able to drive home alone after receiving local anesthesia or nitrous oxide but must have an escort who can drive the patient home after any IV sedation procedure.

The Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery at Indiana University offers comprehensive procedures to both children and adults with congenital and acquired craniofacial differences and deformities. These include cleft lip/palate, facial asymmetries, jaw size discrepancies, post-traumatic defects and other acquired facial defects from pathology or injury. Consultation with a board-certified faculty surgeon is offered to initially evaluate a patient for these services and make initial plans accordingly. Many of these procedures are covered by medical insurance providers.

The Department of Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery at Indiana University School of Dentistry offers several facial cosmetic treatments and procedures. These procedures are undertaken in the out-patient clinics at University Hospital by qualified residents and faculty staff. Facial peels and skin enhancement procedures including glycolic acid peels, fillers and Botox injections to address skin aging can be carried out on a first-come basis during our Cosmetic Clinics. Further, appropriate surgical procedures performed under local anesthetic and sedation are offered at a reduced fee for rejuvenation of foreheads, eyelids and sagging facial tissues. A pre-screening appointment with faculty is offered for any rejuvenation procedures requiring surgery and sedation.

Every day, people around you are getting dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are surgically placed into your jawbone. They are a long-term solution to missing teeth (edentulism) and can be very similar to your natural teeth. Also, unlike fixed bridges or removable dentures, dental implants will not likely affect neighboring healthy teeth or lead to bone loss in the jaw. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Dental implant surgery is, of course, surgery - and is best performed by a trained surgeon. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) has both the specialized education and training in the complexities of the bone, soft-tissue and nerves involved to ensure that you get the best possible results.

The IU-OMFS team offers state-of-the-art dental implant treatments, utilizing the most modern technology and modalities of treatment available. Treatments offered range from replacing teeth in the esthetic (anterior) area, bone grafts, partial and full arch (completely edentulous) rehabilitations. Immediate placement and loading, zygomatic implants, guided surgery and bone graft solutions are part of our daily work routine. Our team is also part of a team of experts globally recognized, like the International Team for Implantology and the ZAGA - Zygomatic implants network.

The IUSD Dental Sleep Medicine service specializes in providing comprehensive care to patients with sleep-related breathing disorders, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. We do so through close collaboration with sleep physicians, who are responsible for diagnosing these conditions, guaranteeing a seamlessly integrated approach to your healthcare.

Our specific area of expertise lies in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, utilizing oral appliance therapy. This treatment is particularly beneficial for patients who may not be suitable candidates for CPAP, encounter difficulties in tolerating CPAP or simply prefer oral appliance therapy. We maintain a rigorous level of coordination with sleep physicians to ensure our patients receive thorough and effective solutions for their sleep-related concerns.

Dentoalveolar surgery primarily involves the teeth and the bone that holds the teeth (the alveolus). It includes procedures such as surgical extractions, the removal of wisdom teeth and other buried teeth/roots, draining intra-oral infections and the management of local oral pathological lesions. In most cases, this type of surgery will require that the patient receives local anesthesia to numb the part of the mouth where the surgery is to be performed. In some instances, your surgeon may give you the option for intravenous (IV) sedation which provides a more profound level of anesthesia resulting in varying degrees of unconsciousness. During the procedure, the oral soft and/or bony tissues will be gently handled to achieve the optimal result based on your clinical diagnosis. Suturing of the soft tissues may be required. Following the surgery, you will be given post operative instructions that you must follow. If you have any concerns during the healing period, please contact our department for advice and reassurance.

The IUSD Hospital Dentistry service specializes in dental care for patients at the intersection of medicine and dentistry, by providing a collaborative approach to oral health. For individuals with complex medical needs: chronic immunosuppression, bleeding disorders, congenital or acquired syndromes, undergoing cancer therapy, or requiring clearance/optimization prior to cardiac surgery, solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, hospital dentistry provides timely evaluation and oral care, all while working with medical teams to ensure an inclusive healthcare approach to dentistry.

IUSD Hospital Dentistry operates as a referral-based outpatient clinic for adult patients across the lifespan (ages > 16 years) for whom dentistry in a traditional outpatient setting may not be possible or sufficient. Additionally, our providers manage all general dentistry inpatient consultation requests for the University Hospital and Simon Cancer Center care teams.

The IUSD Orofacial Pain service provides specialized care for a wide range of orofacial pain conditions through non-surgical approaches. Our services include the management of painful temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions, jaw locking, masticatory muscle pain, bruxism, toothache of non-dental origin, trigeminal neuropathy and primary headaches related to temporomandibular disorders. Our clinic adopts a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, collaborating closely with oral surgeons, physical therapists, ENT specialists, neurologists, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists and other experts to deliver the highest quality care to our patients.

Corrective jaw surgery - also called orthognathic surgery - is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) to correct a wide range of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth. Surgery can improve breathing, chewing and speaking. While the patient’s appearance may be dramatically enhanced as a result of the surgery, orthognathic surgery is performed to correct functional problems.

The following are some of the conditions that may indicate the need for corrective jaw surgery:

  • Difficulty chewing or biting food
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chronic jaw or jaw joint (TMJ) pain
  • Excessive wear of the teeth
  • Open bite (space between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)
  • Unbalanced facial appearance from the front or side
  • Facial injury
  • Congenital craniofacial anomalies seen at birth
  • Receding lower jaw and chin
  • Protruding jaw
  • Inability to make the lips meet without straining
  • Chronic mouth breathing
  • Obstructive sleep apnea

At IU-OMFS, orthognathic surgery is routinely performed by experienced surgeons. Utilizing the latest technology such as 3D imaging, virtual surgical planning, and custom-made guides and bone plates, our team is able to address complex deformities with accuracy, achieving predictably good results.

The Department diagnoses and manages diseases affecting the oral cavity and maxillofacial region, including cysts and benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the jaws, salivary glands, and soft tissues. The Department also has the capability to reconstruct portions of the jaws and face that are affected by pathologic conditions by using either tissue from another region of the patient’s body or engineered materials. Patients with a diagnosis of malignant cancer of the head and neck region are referred to our Otolaryngology (ENT) colleagues with whom we enjoy a close working relationship.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery specializes in the treatment of infants and children with a wide range of conditions of the head and neck region. Additionally, we are able to provide in-office sedation services to help with anxiety related to procedures.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are uniquely trained and qualified to perform multiple reconstructive procedures of the oro-facial region. Training, education and procedural exposure to multiple jaw, facial skeletal and associated soft tissue defects, whether from trauma or ablative (surgical pathology) causes, present during the entire course of residency and thereafter in practice. At Indiana University, this spectrum of training begins in the first few months and carries through four years later at graduation from residency. Many of the attending faculty in the department have post-residency training and experience in this type of surgery which results in a multi-faceted and robust spectrum of skills and procedures available to patients in need of reconstruction.

From replacement, reconstruction or revision of complex soft tissue defects, jaw and skeletal bone problems to restoration with dental implants, oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Indiana University have access to the latest technology in procedural planning to surgical wherewithal, to complete many of these complex procedures using an array of options including native, alloplastic or bioengineered tissues. It is the aim of our department to restore the patient to health in every sense of that meaning and goal.

The Indiana University School of Dentistry Special Care Clinic delivers compassionate general dentistry services and provides education for oral health personnel in the management of individuals (aged 16 years and older across their lifespan) with physical and/or developmental disabilities, as well as the treatment of older adult patients particularly those with complex medical conditions such as cognitive disorders like dementia. We treat patients based on their needs either in the office in our Hospital Dentistry/Special Care dental clinic or in an operating room setting under general anesthesia at Indiana University Health care facilities.

Examples of our scope of care include treating patients with the following:

  • Developmental and/or intellectual disabilities (autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, genetically based conditions - Down syndrome, etc.)
  • Physical disability (vision or hearing impairment, contractures, mobility limitations, etc.)
  • Acquired cognitive or physical disabilities (dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.)

Dental Services:

  • Examination and radiographs
  • Dental hygiene (regular cleanings, deep cleanings)
  • Restorative dentistry
  • Extractions

Special Accommodations Available for Patients:

  • Currently, the only special accommodation offered by the service is comprehensive dental care under general anesthesia in an operating room setting.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department undertakes both the non-surgical and surgical management of patients with temporomandibular joint, TMJ (jaw joint) disorders.  We benefit significantly from having the expertise of a board-certified orofacial pain specialist to assist in the conservative management of these patients.  From the surgical perspective, the procedures on offer range from minimally invasive jaw joint washout procedures (arthrocentesis and arthroscopy) to open joint procedures, including jaw joint replacement surgery of the custom and stock variety. Patients with complex, longstanding, intractable symptoms are frequently managed in a multidisciplinary clinic, the TMJ Institute which is based at the IU School of Dentistry. These patients are assessed by a range of different specialists, at the same time in the same place in order to arrive at a consensual, collaborative diagnosis and management plan.

Here is the link:

https://dentistry.iu.edu/ce-professional-services/tmj/index.html

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department provides comprehensive, year-round 24/7 emergency cover at four Level 1 Trauma Centers in Indianapolis.  We are frequently called upon to manage complex bony and soft tissue facial injuries for patients who have been involved in motor vehicle collisions, gunshot and sporting injuries, as well as interpersonal conflict/violence.  These injuries are repaired by using an array of small, low profile metal plates and screws placed across the bony fractures, to ensure their correct alignment and the reestablishment of the patient's facial structure.  In more challenging cases, the delivery of the optimal patient result can be facilitated by using cutting-edge computer software technology and virtual surgical planning which enables the surgeon to request customized bone plates that perfectly fit and reconstruct the patient’s anatomy.

Staff

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Amanda
MBA
Clinical Operations Manager
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Kari
Janna
CDA, EFDA, DAANCE, MS
Aisha
Sherrica
BGS, CDA, DANB
Post-Doctoral
Clinic Supervisor
Pre-Doctoral
Clinic Supervisor
Post-Doctoral
Clinic Coordinator
Pre-Doctoral
Clinic Coordinator
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AmyLynn
EFDA, RDH, DAANCE
Myrna
EFDA, DAANCE
Sarah 
EFDA, DAANCE

Stephanie

OS Surgical Dental Assistant
Certificate in Nitrous Oxide Administration for dental professionals
OS Surgical Dental Assistant
Certificate in Nitrous Oxide Administration for dental professionals
OS Surgical Dental Assistant
Certificate in Nitrous Oxide Administration for dental professionals
OS Surgical Dental Assistant
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Madison
Rebecca S. Cook
Christin D.
Madison W.
Certified Surgical Technician
Dental Hygienist
Hospital Dentistry
Pre-Doctoral
Clinic Coordinator
Post-Doctoral
Clinic Coordinator
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Coming Soon
ZaraComing Soon
OS Surgical
Dental Assistant
OS Surgical
Dental Assistant
Pre-Doctoral
Clinic Coordinator

 

 

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Desiree Hollenbaugh
Business Administrator
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Patrick R.
Lori M.
Claudia
Administrative
Assistant
OS Residency
Program Coordinator
Prior Authorization
Specialist
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Shelly
Coming Soon
Jill M.
Operating Room
Coordinator
Operating Room
Coordinator
Operating Room
Scheduling Supervisor

 

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."  – Helen Keller