The application of minimally invasive surgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Oral and maxillofacial area constitute an important part of the human appearances, the means of treatment, the size of surgical incision become the concern of patients. With the continuous improvement of minimally invasive surgical instruments and imaging technology, minimal invasive surgery has been rapidly developed in various surgical fields that including oral and maxillofacial surgery. The purpose of minimally invasive surgery is to seek the smallest surgical incision path and the minimal tissue damage to complete the diagnosis and treatment for the patients. In recent years, with broader development and application of minimal invasive surgical techniques in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, such as dento-alveolar surgery, maxillofacial tumor, maxillofacial trauma, the operative approach and surgical procedures of these diseases have been changed greatly. This article intends to synthesize the literatures and the author's clinical experiences, describing the application and development of minimally invasive surgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery.