oralfacial

Oralfacial is a term used to describe anything pertaining to the mouth and face, encompassing anatomy, conditions, and treatment that involve both oral and facial structures. While orofacial is the more widely used spelling in medical literature, oralfacial appears as a variant in some sources.

The oralfacial region includes the lips, tongue, teeth and supporting tissues, gingiva, palate, jawbones (maxilla and mandible), salivary glands, mucosa, and the surrounding facial muscles and soft tissues. Clinically, oralfacial concerns span dentition and oral mucosa, bone integrity, jaw function, facial aesthetics, and neuropathic or muscular pain that affects the mouth and face.

Common areas of focus within oralfacial care include dental caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, temporomandibular joint disorders, facial trauma and fractures, congenital conditions such as cleft lip and/or palate, oral cancer and premalignant lesions, and salivary gland disorders. Orofacial pain syndromes and their management are a central component, reflecting the integration of dental and medical approaches to discomfort in this region.

Training and practice in oralfacial care typically involve dentistry and related specialties such as oral medicine, maxillofacial or oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and facial reconstructive surgery. Education often encompasses dental or medical school plus residency or fellowship training, with multidisciplinary collaboration among dentists, physicians, and allied health professionals to address the functional and aesthetic aspects of the oralfacial region.