General Information
Oral and Maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) is a unique Specialty requiring a dual qualification in medicine and dentistry.
OMFS is seen as the bridge between medicine and dentistry, and is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck, which includes :
- · Painful jaw ligaments and muscle problems (TMJ)
- · Reconstructions following accidents/injury
- · Head and neck cancers
- · Salivary gland diseases
- · Facial pain
- · Impacted teeth
- · Cysts and tumors of the jaws and skin
- · Problems affecting the soft tissues in the mouth, such as mouth ulcers and infections
- · Facial/skin injury
- Jaw re-alignment surgery, which is done in conjunction with Orthodontics.
Due to the nature of our work, we work closely with other specialists including; Orthodontists and Specialist Restorative dentists, Oncologists, Radiologists, Plastic surgeons and Ear Nose and Throat ( ENT) surgeons. We also have a specialist team of Prosthetists, that work along side us.
How do we work?
A lot of our Oral surgery operations can be carried out on an outpatient basis, under local anesthetic ( LA), for example
- · Removal of impacted or mobile teeth or remaining roots of teeth
- · Oral or facial soft tissue biopsies
- · Oral and facial lacerations (cuts)
- · Cryotherapy (freezing) of Haemangioma's ( blood blisters )
- · Exposure of some impacted canine teeth (eye tooth)
- · Emergency draining of oral and facial infections
- 1st and 2nd stage implants ( for patients born with facial or oral deformities or missing teeth and oral cancer patients) .
More complex operations are carried out on in inpatient basis under general anesthesia (GA), for example:
- · Complex impacted teeth
- · Head and neck cancer surgery
- · Salivary gland tumours
- · Reconstructive surgery following trauma or cancer treatment
- 1st stage implants (for patients born with facial or oral deformities/missing teeth and oral cancer patients.)
- Draining complex emergency oral infections .
- Jaw re-alignment surgery ( see link to BOS below for more information )
How can you access the service?
Our patients are usually referred by the Dentist or GP, which could take up to 52-61 weeks to be seen initially. Patients referred on the cancer pathway are usually seen within 2 weeks.
If your Dentist or GP is concerned that we need to see you as an emergency, they may contact the on call SHO or Registrar for advice. We also receive more urgent referrals through A&E. For post-operative advice please refer to page under patient information.
Where are we Located?
We are based at the
Leicester Royal Infirmary
Balmoral building, Level 0
LE1 5WW
Contact us
Appointments: 0116 2047858
Reception: 0116 258 5301
You can find accessibility information for Maxillofacial here.
Links to useful websites:
Changing Faces charity - supports and represents people who have disfigurements
Oral Health Links - links to sites with information and support
Restorative Dentistry - links to Restorative dentistry for more information
Orthodontics - links to Orthodontics for more information
BAOMS - links to the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons patient information page .
BOS - link to British Orthodontic society
