Maxillofacial surgery

What we do

We offer a comprehensive service relating to conditions of the face, mouth and jaws, including a routine assessment and treatment service for common oral surgical conditions.

Our team diagnose and treat a range of conditions, including facial injuries, head and neck cancers, salivary gland diseases, facial pain, impacted teeth, cysts and tumours of the jaws, as well as mouth ulcers and infections.

The specialty is unique, requiring a dual qualification in medicine and dentistry.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons frequently work alongside other specialists including orthodontists, oncologists, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons.

The department provides a surgical service under Intravenous Sedation (IV) or General Anaesthesia (GA) in the Day Surgery Centre facility. These lists are undertaken by consultants and specialty grade doctors.

The following types of case are treated in the department:

Dentoalveolar surgery - surgery of the tooth-bearing part of the jaws, including impacted teeth, complex tooth extractions, cysts and lesions of the oral mucous membranes

Oral medicine - ulcers, infections and diseases of the mouth. The diagnosis and medical treatment of a wide range of conditions of the oral mucosa is carried out in the department.

Trauma - the treatment of facial fractures including orbital fractures, lacerations, craniofacial trauma and post traumatic deformity

Oral and facial cancers - a multidisciplinary approach to head and neck cancer according to NICE guidance. Following diagnosis at Warwick Hospital, further assessment and treatment planning is carried out at UHCW (University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire) under a multi-disciplinary team.

Salivary gland diseases - salivary gland obstruction (stones/strictures), inflammatory diseases, mucoceles/ranulas, benign and malignant tumours, parotid surgery and 'minimally invasive techniques' are provided.

Facial pain - a service for the diagnosis and treatment of facial pain

Jaw joint disorders - treatment, including surgery for disorders of the temporomandibular (TM) joints. Most patients are seen on an outpatient basis in the Maxillofacial Unit, but surgery under general anaesthesia is sometimes required.

Medically compromised patients - the management of medically compromised patients requiring dental surgery is an expanding area, with the increase in long-term management of cardiac patients (eg patients on anticoagulants), transplants and immuno-compromised patients

Related links

British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

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