From a simple extraction to an impacted wisdom tooth, from treating a cyst to implant surgery, every surgical procedure in the mouth belongs to this field.
What is oral and maxillofacial surgery?
It is the department that diagnoses and operates on all conditions affecting the soft tissues of the mouth (such as the cheek, palate, tongue and lips) and its hard tissues (teeth and bones). Depending on the extent of the procedure and the patient's condition, operations are carried out under local anaesthesia, sedation or general anaesthesia; the great majority of procedures in dental clinics are done under local anaesthesia.
Which procedures are carried out?
- Tooth extraction: Removing teeth that cannot be saved by treatment
- Impacted and wisdom tooth surgery: Removing teeth that are stuck in the jaw or only partly erupted
- Treatment of cysts and abscesses: Treating cysts and infections that develop around the tooth root
- Apicoectomy: Surgically cleaning root-tip infections that have not healed with root canal treatment
- Implant surgery: Placing implants and, where needed, bone augmentation
- Pre-prosthetic surgery: Reshaping the bone and soft tissue a prosthesis will sit on
- Tongue-tie and lip-tie procedures: Correcting short attachments that affect speech or tooth alignment
How does a surgical procedure progress?
- Examination and imagingYour complaint is heard and your mouth examined. The tooth and the surrounding bone and nerves are assessed on X-rays.
- Medical historyYou are asked about chronic illnesses, medications (especially blood thinners) and allergies. Your doctor is consulted if necessary.
- The procedureThe area is numbed and the procedure is carried out. Stitches are placed where needed.
- Aftercare adviceWhat to do and what to avoid afterwards is explained to you in writing and in person, and medication is prescribed if needed.
- Check-upIf stitches were placed they are usually removed within a week and healing is checked.
What should you look out for afterwards?
- Bite on the gauze pad for about half an hour.
- For the first 24 hours do not spit, rinse or use a straw; the clot needs to stay in place.
- On the first day apply cold to the outside of your cheek at intervals.
- Eat lukewarm, soft foods for the first few days; avoid hot drinks and smoking.
- Call us if there is bleeding that will not stop, increasing pain or fever.
For details, see our article on care after a tooth extraction.
Frequently asked questions
Do wisdom teeth always have to be removed?
No. Wisdom teeth that have come through properly, can be cleaned and cause no problems do not need to be removed. Removal is recommended for teeth that stay impacted, only partly erupt, or cause repeated infection, decay or damage to the neighbouring tooth.
How long does it take to remove an impacted tooth?
It depends on the position of the tooth; most procedures are completed in about half an hour to an hour.
Will there be swelling afterwards?
Swelling is expected after surgical extractions; it usually peaks on the second and third day and then goes down. Applying cold on the first day reduces it.
I take blood thinners. Can I have a tooth extracted?
In most cases yes, but do not stop your medication on your own. Tell us at the examination which medication you take; if necessary your dentist will plan the procedure together with the doctor who prescribed it.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an examination. The right treatment for you is decided after your dentist's examination and any imaging needed.