Redefining Success in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Bridging the Gap Between Technical Outcomes and Patient Quality...

Traditional success metrics in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) primarily emphasize clinician-reported outcomes such as anatomical correction, osseointegration, skeletal stability, and disease control. However, growing evidence indicates a frequent mismatch between these objective measures and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and quality of life (QoL), particularly in interventions affecting facial appearance and socially relevant functions. This narrative review examines the alignment and divergence between clinical outcomes and PROMs across major OMFS subspecialties, including dental implantology, orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, and oral cancer reconstruction. Across these domains, technical success often fails to translate into perceived patient benefit, with persistent functional, esthetic, or psychosocial concerns despite clinical stability. These findings underscore the need to redefine success in OMFS beyond structural restoration. Incorporating standardized PROMs as coprimary outcomes and adopting patient-centered, multidisciplinary care models are essential for achieving outcomes that reflect both clinical efficacy and meaningful improvements in patients' lived experiences.