Dentists can do a large number of surgical interventions in the mouth. The term "Minor oral surgery" refers to smaller operations and include removing wisdom teeth, impacted teeth, and severely broken-down teeth, as well as apicectomies, biopsies and other procedures. Within our service our oral surgery is largely carried out by “dentists with a special interest in oral surgery” (DwSI). The service provides a range of oral surgical procedures for patients referred by their general dental practitioner. Patients are usually referred for the removal of teeth which the referring practitioner is unhappy to remove themselves.

Procedures are usually carried out using routine local anaesthetic (injections) although sometimes sedation can be provided if necessary.Our service cannot provide minor oral surgery treatment under general anaesthetic. Patients requiring this form of treatment must be referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at the relevant hospital. Your dentist is able to make this referral if appropriate.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS or OMFS) specializes in treating many diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (jaws and face) region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty.