I think I may need this operation?

Your Surgeon may have recommended a particular procedure for you. Use this section as a guide only.

Search for your procedure below or select the type of procedure you may need:

Typical Operations and Procedures

Search our database of common oral and maxillofacial procedures by typing below:

Check the procedures below if you have been unable to find your procedure:

The staff of the BAOMS Offices are not medically trained and cannot give advice about medical conditions.
In addition, the information on this site should not be used for self-diagnosis but rather to inform you, as a patient/member of the public, of the surgical procedures/operations that oral and maxillofacial surgeons can perform. You should always contact your GP or Specialist Nurse for medical advice in the first instance for a possible consultant referral.

All Procedures

Biopsy

Oral (Mouth) Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure where a small piece of tissue is removed from an area so that it can be looked at closely under a microscope. Read more

Removal of Facial Skin Lesion

You have a lesion on the skin of your face that requires removal. It will already have been discussed with you that this is the best form of treatment rather than using creams, lotions or freezing... Read more

Cancer and Oncology

Fibular Free Flap

A fibular free flap is one way of filling a bony hole in either the upper or lower jaw. It is one of the common ways of replacing bone that has been removed for cancer treatment. Read more

Laser Excision of Mouth Lesion

You have an area inside your mouth that requires removal and the surgeon that has seen you has decided that using a laser would be best for you. A laser has many advantages over other types of... Read more

Neck Dissection

What is a neck dissection? A neck dissection is an operation to remove lymph nodes from the neck on one or both sides. Read more

Radial Forearm Flap

A radial forearm free flap is one way of filling a hole which is left when a cancer has been removed. It is one of the most common ways of replacing tissue in the head and neck, particularly after... Read more

Staging of Head and Neck Cancer

You have recently been diagnosed as suffering from oral cancer. As part of the preparation for deciding which treatment is best for you, your doctors will “stage” your cancer. This... Read more

Cosmetic and soft tissue

Blepharoplasty

The skin tends to lose its elasticity with age. In the eyelids this results in excess skin which forms folds in the upper lids and deepening creases in the lower lids. There may also be a loosening... Read more

Scar Revision

Facial scars can arise from trauma or surgery. Scar revision is designed to improve or disguise the appearance of an existing scar. Scars tend to improve on their own with time and therefore surgery... Read more

Setting back of Prominent Ears (Pinnaplasty or Otoplasty)

Approximately 1% of the population in the United Kingdom consider their ears to be too prominent. In many cases a family trend can be seen. Most prominent ears lack a normal fold of cartilage, and... Read more

Suturing of Facial Lacerations

You have a cut on your face which needs to be stitched. The doctor who has examined you has already decided that it is too big to be glued or taped. The treatment that is about to take place involves... Read more

Dental Injury

Caring For Your Mouth After a Dental Injury

Dental injuries include damage to the teeth, lips, gums and tongue. They can result from sport or road traffic accidents, as well as fights and falls. The most common injury is a broken or lost... Read more

Fractures

Fractures of the Cheekbone

Your cheekbone has been broken. The cheekbone forms part of the eye socket, both protecting the eyeball and supporting it from below. It is also linked to the side of the nose and the upper jaw. The... Read more

Fractures of the Lower Jaw

Your lower jaw has been broken. The number of fractures, where they have occurred and whether they need treatment to help them heal has already been established by the doctor who examined you. The... Read more

Fractures of the Upper Jaw

Your upper jaw has been broken. The number of fractures, where they have occurred and whether they need treatment to help them heal has already been established by the doctor who examined you. The... Read more

Nasal Fracture

The bones of your nose have been broken. This can produce problems with appearance and breathing. Whether your nose needs to be put back in the right place has already been decided by the doctor who... Read more

Imaging and Scans

Having a CT Scan

Computerised tomography (CT) is a method of building up a detailed picture of your body and its organs. It uses X-ray radiation to build up the pictures. Read more

Having a Sialogram.

A sialogram is a dye investigation of a salivary gland. It is carried out to look in detail at the larger salivary glands, namely the parotid or submandibular glands. These glands drain saliva into... Read more

Having an MRI Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a method of building up a detailed picture of your body and its organs. Unlike CT (computerised tomography) it does not use X-ray radiation but instead magnetic... Read more

Oral Surgery

Apicetomy

An infection has occurred at the tip of the root of one of your teeth. Sometimes this does not cause any symptoms but usually people are aware of discomfort and occasional episodes of swelling, gum... Read more

Coronectomy

The wisdom tooth (or third molar) is usually the last tooth to erupt into the mouth anytime after about 16 years of age. Frequently there is not enough room to accommodate wisdom teeth and as such... Read more

Exposure of Impacted Canine

The canine, or eye tooth, normally erupts into the mouth between the ages of 11 and 13. Sometimes one or both canines develop in the wrong position. Often they lie across the roof of the mouth behind... Read more

Oral Surgery continued...

Hip Bone Graft

One of the easiest ways of filling in a hole in a jaw bone is to use bone from the hip. A “hip graft” involves collecting bone from the pelvis above the hip joint. You can usually feel... Read more

Insertion of Dental implant

An implant is a false metal root screwed into the jawbone. Implants form anchors for a crown, bridge or denture attachments. Read more

Removal of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

This leaflet is designed to give you more information about what the issues are with wisdom teeth, what treatment options may be given, where you may be referred to and to expect if you are having... Read more

Orthognathic Surgery

Genioplasty (Chin Surgery)

The profile of your chin needs correction because the bones of your face and jaws are out of balance with each other. Surgery to change position of the chin is called genioplasty. The surgery will... Read more

Jaw Surgery - British Orthodontic Society Website

Orthognathic surgery is an operation to reposition the jaws. The operation aims to correct imbalance between the upper and lower jaws which will enable the teeth to bite together correctly; this... Read more

Mandibular (Lower Jaw) Osteotomy

It has not been possible to correct your teeth and how they bite together with orthodontics alone. This is because the bones of your face and jaws are out of balance with one another. Surgery will... Read more

Maxillary (Upper Jaw) Osteotomy

Reconstructive Surgery

Anterolateral free flap (ALT)

An anterolateral free flap is also known as an “ALT flap”. It comprises of skin, taken from the front of the thigh, which can be used to fill a hole which is left when a cancer has... Read more

DCIA/Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery Flap

A DCIA free flap is one way of filling a bony hole in either the upper or lower jaw. It is one of the common ways of replacing bone that has been removed for cancer treatment. Read more

Fibular Free Flap

A fibular free flap is one way of filling a bony hole in either the upper or lower jaw. It is one of the common ways of replacing bone that has been removed for cancer treatment. Read more

Medial Sural Artery Perforator free flap (MSAP)

A Medial Sural Artery Perforator free flap is also known as an “MSAP flap”. It comprises of skin, taken from the back of the lower leg which can be used to fill a hole which is left... Read more

Pectoralis Major flap

The Pectoralis Major is also known as a ‘Pec Major’; it is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the upper front of the chest wall. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in... Read more

Scapula flap

A scapula free flap is one way of filling a bony hole in either the upper or lower jaw. It is one of the common ways of replacing bone that has been removed or damaged. Read more

Salivary Gland Surgery

Having a Sialogram.

Removal of Parotid Gland

The parotid gland is a salivary gland that lies immediately in front of the ear. Saliva drains from it through a tube that opens on the inside of the cheek next to the upper back teeth. The parotid... Read more

Removal of Sublingual Salivary Gland

The sublingual gland is a salivary gland about the size of an almond that lies underneath the tongue in the floor of your mouth. Saliva drains from it through a number of small tubes that open on the... Read more

Removal of Submandibular Gland

The submandibular gland is a salivary gland about the size of a plum that lies immediately below the lower jaw. Saliva drains from it through a tube that opens on the inside of the mouth under the... Read more

Sialendoscopy

Sialendoscopy is a procedure that is used to examine the ducts (openings) of the salivary glands. A miniature telescope, known as a micro-endoscope, is inserted into the natural opening of the... Read more

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

Arthrocentesis (Wash out) of Jaw Joint

The disc of cartilage which lies in your jaw joint has moved out of its normal position between the bones. Read more

Arthroscopy of the Jaw Joint

Arthroscopy is a form of keyhole surgery in which a small telescope is inserted into a joint. This allows the inside of the joint to be examined in great detail. It can diagnose as well as treat... Read more

Open Jaw Joint Surgery

Your surgeon has decided that the best way to sort out the problems you are experiencing from your jaw joint is to perform “open” surgery. Open surgery involves exposing the jaw joint... Read more

Temporomandibular Joint Replacement Surgery

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the jaw joint. A TMJR is similar to a joint replacement elsewhere in the body, such as a knee. It aims to improve the function of a degenerated or... Read more

WHAT IS ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Oral & Maxillofacial (OMF) Surgeons specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck. Find out more here.

WHAT IS ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

THE PATIENT'S JOURNEY

The assessment and treatment of oral and maxillofacial conditions can be complex and, at times, confusing for patients. Find more information about your treatment here.