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

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) encompasses procedures that directly influence core human functions including chewing, swallowing, speaking, and facial esthetics. Historically, the success of these procedures has been primarily judged by clinician‐reported outcomes, rooted in anatomical restoration, functional recovery assessed through clinical examination, radiographic measurements, absence of complications, and prosthesis survival statistics (). These metrics have guided research, funding priorities, and training over decades, and they remain indispensable for establishing procedural feasibility and safety. However, there is growing recognition that patient experiences and perceived benefits do not always align with clinically measured “success.” The shift toward value‐based healthcare places greater emphasis not only on extending life or restoring anatomy but also on improving how life is lived after treatment (). This shift is particularly relevant in OMFS, where many procedures, including orthognathic surgery and head and neck cancer (HNC) reconstruction, profoundly influence psychosocial identity, interpersonal interaction, and overall well‐being. As a result, patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14), Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), FACE‐Q, University of Washington Quality of Life (UW‐QoL), and EORTC QLQ‐H&N35 have become essential tools for capturing the patient's lived experience (). Despite increasing implementation, substantive gaps and mismatches persist between clinician‐based success definitions and PROM outcomes across various OMFS subspecialties. For example, in implantology, radiographically stable implants may coexist with ongoing speech or esthetic dissatisfaction. After orthognathic surgery, patients may achieve cephalometric perfection yet remain unhappy with self‐image. HNC survivors frequently struggle with communication, nutrition, and social withdrawal long after oncologic cure has been achieved.