Department of Adult and Pediatric Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery - Hannover Medical School (MHH)

About the Department of Adult and Pediatric Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery at Hannover Medical School (MHH)

The Department of Adult and Pediatric Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery at the Hannover Medical School offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients with pathologies in the face, jaw, oral cavity, head and neck. The priority focuses of the medical institution's work include dental interventions, in particular, various techniques for augmenting the jaw bone tissue, implantology, treatment of maxillofacial injuries, benign and malignant neoplasms, maxillofacial inflammatory pathologies, correction of the cleft palate and other congenital and acquired facial defects. The department is a world leader in the field of orbital reconstructive surgery. A feature of the medical facility is the availability of the advanced computer equipment for planning treatment and performing operations with the highest accuracy and efficiency. Thus, the department has everything necessary to achieve an excellent therapeutic result, starting from modern operating rooms to experienced specialists. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Nils-Claudius Gellrich.

The department's surgeons have invaluable experience in the treatment of head and neck malignancies. One of the most common diagnoses is oral squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer is mostly diagnosed at the advanced stages, which makes its treatment a rather difficult task. To detect the tumor and determine the stage of the pathology, the doctors conduct general clinical examination, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound examination, biopsy. If necessary, positron emission tomography can also be carried out. The basis of therapy is the surgical removal of the tumor, including radical resection. All therapeutic procedures meet the guidelines of the German-Austrian-Swiss Working Group on Maxillofacial Tumors (DÖSAK).

Thanks to the use of state-of-the-art surgical techniques, the doctors achieve excellent functional results and provide the patient with a good aesthetic appearance. In advanced types of cancer, surgery can often be supplemented by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The decision on a multimodal approach to treatment is made at regular tumor boards individually for each patient. Once treatment is completed, the patient will be prescribed a specially adapted follow-up program. It aims to prevent the disease recurrence.

The department is also proud of its outstanding achievements in reconstructive orbital surgery. Such interventions are performed in the case of orbital injuries and fractures, which can be complicated by eye displacement and negative effect on vision. The reconstructive eye surgeries are complex procedures, which require careful and accurate planning. State-of-the-art equipment for computed tomography and digital volume tomography is used for this purpose. When performing surgical treatment, the optimal result is achieved thanks to the use of special titanium implants. There are also alternative methods, which can be applied depending on the patient’s specific clinical situation.

In collaboration with other specialized departments, the experts perform interventions to correct cleft lip, jaw and palate in children. The department pays special attention to monitoring of changes in the position of teeth and defects caused by bone deficiency in the cleft area. The surgical treatment is followed by regular interdisciplinary consultations for the child and his parents, during which the specialists assess the development of the child and prescribe therapeutic measures, if necessary.

The department's clinical focuses include:

• Diagnostics and treatment of skin tumors on the face and head
• Diagnostics and treatment of head and neck tumors
• Dental implantation
• Dentoalveolar surgery
  • Tooth extraction
  • Osteotomy of retained and displaced teeth
  • Autografting of teeth primordia
  • Exposure of the retained teeth for subsequent orthodontic placement in the dental arch
  • Root apex resection
  • Cyst removal 
  • Treatment of tooth injuries
• Diagnostics and treatment of facial skull injuries
• Orbital surgery
• Dysgnathia surgery (corrective osteotomy)
• Surgical repair of cleft lip, jaw and palate in children
• Facial reconstructive surgery
  • Tissue transplantation
  • Microsurgery
• Temporomandibular joint surgery
• Computer-assisted surgery and navigation surgery
• Other medical services