Oral Surgery

Oral surgery includes a range of surgical procedures that are conducted in the mouth and jaws. Typically, a Dentist or an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS) will perform Oral Surgery and this may be completed under either Local Anaesthetic or under a General Anasthetic (in hospital).

In a large proportion of cases there are many dentists that are very competent in and enjoy performing a large range of oral surgical procedures. Often, a dentist is able to incorporate oral surgery procedures into the patients overall treatment plan without the need for a patient to visit various practitioners.

Depending on their level of training, dentists may perform:

Extractions and wisdom teeth extractions - uncomplicated and complicated
Implants
Biopsies for pathology screening
Frenectomy (ankyloglossia or tongue tie)
Apicectomy (removal of infected root tip after root canal treatment)
Pre-prosthetic surgery (prior to denture construction)
Treatment of dental infections
Periodontal surgery

An OMFS is a specialist that undertakes considerable training in Dentistry, Medicine, and Surgery for a number of years (around 13) and they conduct complex surgery that includes other structures of the mouth, jaws, and face that a dentist may not wish to do, and in many cases is not qualified to do. Most of the procedures an OMFS will do are performed under a General Anaesthetic in hospital due to the complexity of the surgery involved.

Procedures that a patient may be referred to an OMFS for are:

Complicated extractions and wisdom teeth extractions
Implants
Maxilla and Mandible osteotomies and orthognathic surgery
Sinus lifts
Reconstructive surgery
TMJ surgery
Cancer diagnosis and surgery
Congenital malformation surgery such as cleft lip/palate
Trauma surgery to the jaws and face such as mandible, cheek bone, and eye socket fractures
Diagnosis and treatment of facial pain, oral pathology, oral cancer, and other non-surgical conditions related to the oral and maxillofacial region.

A patient requires a referral to an OMFS by their medical GP or Dentist, and in many cases the assistance of an OMFS is required in the overall multidisciplinary treatment of a patients medical condition, or for a 2nd opinion. At all times, if a patient is unsure of their treatment needs, an opinion from an OMFS should be gained or requested.

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