Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Dentoalveolar surgery treats problems involving teeth and the surrounding jawbone. It may include removal of impacted or difficult teeth, including wisdom teeth, and other surgical dental procedures. Your surgeon will explain the recommended anaesthetic approach, expected recovery and risks for your individual case.

Dental implants can replace missing teeth by providing a foundation for a crown, bridge or denture. Facial implants, including custom-made implants, may be used to restore facial contour or support a facial prosthesis following injury, cancer surgery or congenital conditions. Treatment planning may involve clinical examination and imaging; some patients may also need bone grafting before or at the time of implant placement.

Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw or both jaws when orthodontic treatment alone cannot correct the bite or jaw relationship. Treatment is usually planned jointly with an orthodontist and may improve chewing, speech, breathing, facial balance and comfort.

The temporomandibular joints connect the lower jaw to the skull. Assessment may be appropriate for persistent jaw pain, locking, restricted opening or structural joint disease. Many TMJ disorders are managed without surgery; where symptoms and findings justify it, surgical options may be discussed.

Salivary gland conditions, including stones, recurrent infection and benign or cancerous tumours, may cause pain, swelling or a lump. Specialist assessment helps identify the cause and may involve imaging or biopsy. Treatment depends on the diagnosis and can include monitoring, minimally invasive care or surgery.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons assess and treat oral cancer, jaw cysts and tumours, and selected skin cancers of the lips and face. Assessment may involve imaging or biopsy. Treatment can include monitoring, surgical removal or reconstruction, with input from other head and neck specialists where appropriate.

Your specialist will ask about your symptoms, health history, medicines and previous treatment, then examine the affected area. Imaging or biopsy may be recommended when needed. You will receive an explanation of the findings and treatment options, including whether non-surgical care, monitoring or surgery is appropriate.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon diagnoses and treats conditions affecting the mouth, teeth, jaws, face and neck. This may include impacted teeth, dental implants, jaw misalignment, TMJ disorders, facial trauma, salivary gland disease, oral cancer, facial skin cancer, and cysts or tumours of the jaw.

You can self-refer, or be referred by your dentist, orthodontist, GP or another specialist. Some insurers require a referral for cover, so check with your insurer before booking.

Wisdom teeth may need assessment when they cause pain, infection, swelling, decay, damage to a neighbouring tooth or other problems. Removal is not automatically required for every wisdom tooth. A specialist can review your symptoms and imaging and explain the benefits and risks of treatment or monitoring.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a recognised specialist field covering diseases, injuries and defects of the mouth, jaws and associated facial structures. In Australia and New Zealand, oral and maxillofacial surgeons commonly hold qualifications in both medicine and dentistry alongside specialist surgical training.

Your specialist will assess your mouth, gums, bite, health history and available jawbone. Imaging may be needed to plan the implant position and identify nearby structures. The consultation covers treatment stages, alternatives, healing time, costs, risks and whether bone grafting may be required.

Corrective jaw surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw or both jaws. It may be considered when the jaws do not align properly and orthodontic treatment alone cannot correct the underlying relationship. Planning usually involves both a surgeon and an orthodontist.

Yes. Many TMJ disorders are managed without surgery. Treatment depends on the diagnosis and may include self-care, medicines, a dental splint or other therapies. Surgery is generally considered for selected patients with persistent symptoms and structural joint problems after specialist assessment.

Recovery varies widely by procedure and individual health. A tooth extraction may involve a shorter recovery than implant, jaw or reconstructive surgery. Your surgeon will provide procedure-specific instructions covering pain relief, swelling, eating, oral hygiene, activity, medicines and follow-up.

Follow the instructions provided for your procedure. Soft foods and adequate fluids are commonly recommended at first, while very hot, hard or sharp foods may need to be avoided. Take care while your mouth is numb and return to your usual diet only as advised.

Contact your surgical team for bleeding that does not settle, worsening swelling or pain, fever, wound discharge, persistent vomiting, new or increasing numbness, or any concern about healing. Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing or swallowing, chest pain or another medical emergency.