An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is the specialist responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and disorders of the craniofacial region: the jaw bones (maxilla and mandible), the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and the soft tissues of the head, neck and oral cavity. In practice, the surgeon assesses and manages functional and structural conditions that may affect chewing, mouth opening and closing, and mandibular balance. he role is not simply to perform surgery — it is to establish a diagnosis, define the clinical indication and determine the most appropriate pathway, whether conservative or surgical, for each individual case.