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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery guides
20 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, with clinical review status shown on each page.
Apicectomy (root-end surgery) (Apicectomy (apical surgery / endodontic microsurgery))A small operation to clean infection from the very tip of a tooth's root and seal it, used as a last chance to save a tooth when root canal treatment has not worked.Bone grafting for implants (Alveolar bone augmentation (including sinus lift))A procedure to add or build up bone in the jaw so there is enough to hold a dental implant securely.Cheekbone fracture repair (Open reduction and internal fixation of a zygomatic (cheekbone) fracture)An operation to lift a broken cheekbone back into position and, if needed, hold it with small plates and screws, used when the fracture has changed the face or affected the eye, jaw or sensation.Cleft lip and palate surgery (Cleft lip and palate repair (primary and secondary procedures))Surgery, usually in babies and children, to repair a gap in the lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate) so that feeding, speech, hearing, teeth and appearance can develop as well as possible.Dental implants (Endosseous dental implants)A surgical treatment that places a small titanium post into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth, bridge or denture.Facial skin cancer surgery (Surgical excision and reconstruction of facial skin cancer)An operation to remove a skin cancer from the face with a clear margin of healthy tissue, and to repair the wound, while keeping appearance and function as good as possible.Facial trauma / fracture repair (Repair of facial fractures (open reduction and internal fixation))Surgery to put broken facial bones — such as the jaw, cheek, eye socket or nose — back into position and hold them while they heal, used when the break has affected how the face looks, bites or works.Jaw joint arthroscopy (Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy)A keyhole procedure that lets a surgeon look inside the jaw joint with a fine telescope and gently wash it out, used for some jaw joint problems that have not settled with simpler treatments.Jaw realignment surgery (orthognathic surgery) (Orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery))Planned surgery to reposition the upper jaw, lower jaw or both, almost always combined with a long course of braces, to correct the bite and the balance of the face.Lower jaw (mandibular) surgery (Mandibular osteotomy (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, BSSO))Planned surgery to cut and reposition the lower jaw, moving it forward or back to correct the bite and facial balance, almost always combined with a long course of braces.Mouth (oral) cancer surgery (Surgical removal of oral cavity cancer (with neck dissection and reconstruction where needed))Surgery to remove a cancer in the mouth, along with a margin of healthy tissue and sometimes lymph nodes in the neck, often with reconstruction to rebuild the area and support speech and swallowing.Mouth lesion removal or biopsy (Oral (intra-oral) biopsy and minor lesion excision)A small procedure to take or remove a sample of tissue from inside the mouth so it can be looked at under a microscope and the cause of a lump, patch or ulcer can be found.Removal of a salivary gland (submandibular or parotid) (Submandibular gland excision or parotidectomy)An operation to remove a salivary gland — the parotid in front of the ear or the submandibular gland under the jaw — usually because of a lump, a blockage that cannot be cleared, or repeated infections.Removal of jaw cysts (Surgical management of jaw cysts (enucleation, marsupialisation/decompression))An operation to remove a fluid-filled sac (cyst) from the jawbone, either by taking the whole lining out or by making a window to let it shrink first, to settle symptoms and confirm what it is.Salivary stone removal (Removal of a salivary duct stone (treatment of sialolithiasis))A procedure to remove a stone blocking a salivary gland or its duct, used to relieve the pain and swelling that come on when you eat.Sleep apnoea jaw surgery (Maxillomandibular advancement (bimaxillary osteotomy) for obstructive sleep apnoea)A major jaw operation that moves the upper and lower jaws forward to open up the airway, used for selected people with obstructive sleep apnoea when other treatments have not worked or are not tolerated.Tongue-tie release (Frenotomy (frenulotomy) for ankyloglossia)A quick procedure, most often in young babies, to divide a tight band of tissue under the tongue (tongue-tie) when it is making breastfeeding difficult.Treatment of jaw joint disorder (TMJ / TMD) (Management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD))Treatment for pain and problems in the jaw joint and chewing muscles, which for most people means supported self-care and simple measures first, with injections or surgery reserved for a small minority.Upper jaw (maxillary) surgery (Maxillary osteotomy (Le Fort I osteotomy))Planned surgery to cut and reposition the upper jaw (a Le Fort I osteotomy), moving it to correct the bite and facial balance, almost always combined with a long course of braces.Wisdom tooth removal (Surgical removal of third molars (third molar extraction))A procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth, usually because they are causing pain, infection or other problems.
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