Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

What we do

Most people think of wisdom teeth when they hear oral surgery, and it is indeed what we do most often. We also treat:

• Impacted and partially erupted teeth: wisdom teeth and canines that have not come through. Exposing an impacted tooth during orthodontic treatment also falls under this heading.
• Difficult extractions: teeth with broken or curved roots, or roots fused to the bone.
• Cysts: removal of jaw cysts found by chance on an X-ray or causing swelling.
• Root-end surgery (apicoectomy): to save a tooth when infection at the root tip persists after root canal treatment.
• Preparation for implants: bone grafting when there is not enough bone, and sinus lifting in the upper jaw. See our dental implants page for details.
• Clenching and jaw muscle pain: masseter Botox, usually together with a night guard.

Before surgery

We take a panoramic X-ray in our own radiology unit at the first visit, and in most cases that is enough to decide. If the root of a wisdom tooth is very close to the nerve, or we need to see the exact borders of a cyst, we ask for a CT scan. We do not have a CT scanner, so we refer you to an imaging centre for this.

Please tell us about every medicine you take, especially blood thinners, diabetes and blood pressure medication, and anything you take for osteoporosis. Do not stop a blood thinner on your own; if needed we decide together with the doctor who prescribed it.

Local anaesthesia or sedation?

Most procedures, wisdom teeth included, are done at the clinic under local anaesthesia. You are awake but feel no pain, only pressure and vibration.

When several impacted teeth are removed in one session, the operation will be long, or the patient is too anxious to sit in the chair, sedation or general anaesthesia may be needed. We perform these operations at our partner hospital together with the anaesthesia team. We discuss which option suits you after the examination.

After surgery

• On the first day, apply something cold to the cheek on and off. Swelling usually peaks on the second or third day and then goes down.
• For the first 24 hours do not rinse, do not drink through a straw, and avoid very hot food and drinks.
• Smoking slows healing and can cause a painful condition called dry socket. Avoid it for at least the first few days.
• If you have stitches, they are removed at a check-up after 7 to 10 days.

If the pain gets worse instead of better after the third day, if you have a fever, or if you find it hard to open your mouth, call us straight away.

Highlights of This Service

• Impacted and partially erupted wisdom teeth
• Difficult and broken tooth extractions
• Cyst and root-end surgery
• Bone and sinus procedures before implants
• Sedation at our partner hospital when needed