Maxillofacial
Pronunciation: mak-SIL-oh-FAY-shul
An adjective pertaining to the maxilla, mandible, and associated facial structures; used to denote a surgical specialty and to describe conditions or procedures involving the jaws and face.
Full Definition
The term 'maxillofacial' combines 'maxilla' (upper jaw) and 'facial' to describe the anatomical region encompassing the jaws, face, and related structures. As a specialty descriptor, 'oral and maxillofacial surgery' (OMFS or OMS) is the full formal title of the surgical discipline concerned with diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaws, face, and neck. Editors must ensure consistent hyphenation (or lack thereof): the standard in British and American English is the single unhyphenated compound adjective 'maxillofacial'. It is commonly misspelled as 'maxillafacial' (incorrect insertion of 'a') or 'maxillo-facial' (unnecessary hyphen); both errors should be corrected.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate ('maxillo-facial' is non-standard). Do not misspell as 'maxillafacial'. Distinguish from 'maxillary' (relating to the maxilla alone) and 'craniofacial' (relating to both skull and face). The specialty is 'oral and maxillofacial surgery', not 'oral maxillofacial surgery'.
In Context
- "The patient was referred to the maxillofacial surgery unit for assessment of a suspected ameloblastoma of the right mandible." — GP referral letter
- "All operative notes from the maxillofacial theatre should be dictated within 24 hours of the procedure in accordance with trust policy." — Clinical governance document