Cosmetic oral and maxillofacial surgery: a new era.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialty of dentistry that may be likened to the proverbial "sleeping giant." From a humble, nascent beginning as a specialty to advance the then modern concept of alveolar surgery to its present state, oral and maxillofacial surgery is today vibrating with excitement. To the credit of dentistry, the profession now has a specialty that not only has the capability to alter the bony facial framework, but also can alter the collateral collagenous and superficial cutaneous structures. Combined with dental alteration of the dentition and gingival apparatus, the profession is nearing its zenith relative to having the capability of changing an entire face.