In the fall of 2001, the Texas A&M Health Science Center and the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery opened its Center for Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Clinic (CMP Clinic).
This is the first center of its kind in North Texas, and one of only a few such centers in the United States. It exists for the primary purpose of assisting patients who require reconstruction of acquired and congenital oral and facial deformities, restoring normal appearance, function and facial contour to patients who have lost ears, noses, eyes, etc., as a result of injury, cancer treatment, or birth defects.
The Center also focuses on educating dental students, dental postgraduate students and medical residents. Students learn about the opportunities that embrace all the specialty areas of dentistry, including the fields of prosthodontics, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pathology, and restorative dentistry.
Treatments utilize a multidisciplinary approach to complex facial problems that involve oral maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons, head and neck surgeons, oncologists, oncologic surgeons, speech therapists, occupational therapists, anaplastologists, audiologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The comprehensive multi-disciplinary team at the CMP clinic has access to the most up-to-date diagnostic and treatment options available. The Center uses digital equipment and computer software for patient evaluation, treatment planning, surgical guides and prosthetics.
Most importantly, the CMP clinic provides an opportunity for integrating clinical patient care, research and education. The net result of this integrative, team management approach is vastly improved access to care for patients; enlightened professional patient care that utilizes advances in science and technology; expanded educational opportunities for many diverse student groups and health care professionals in a multidisciplinary center.
