Introduction

Welcome to the British Association of Oral Surgeons patient information area

We hope this website will address some of the issues around accessing oral surgical care. The links later in this section (see right-hand sidebar) will help you to understand more about your condition and how you may access advice and care.

There is a lot of advice on where to access information on the links page.

You can also access this Patient leaflets for specific oral surgery  conditions are available. In addition there is more about specific pain conditions in the Education section.

If you need an urgent referral, consult your GP or dentist. If you are afraid that you may have cancer in the mouth you may have some symptoms but you require an urgent 2 week wait referral from your dentist or doctor.

Click to see red flags for malignancy

Referral advice for patients and patient journey  – What to expect when you are referred for consultation

In order to see any specialist you require a referral from either your dentist or doctor. This is usually done by letter. Once the letter (or fax/email) referral is received then the appointments process starts. Depending upon the type of service and which hospital you have been referred to the appointment will be secured by letter confirmation followed by a phone call confirmation.

You will also be able to complete your history, details about your condition medical health so bring your prescription repeat sheets with you if you are on several medications.

NHS Choices Seeing a specialist http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/seeing-a-specialist.aspx

We will need to fully understand the treatment details and the patients’ problem and will need to ask further questions and look through provided patient information when  making a diagnosis

Imaging tests (X-rays), such as plain xrays and rarely  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, may be conducted. In addition we may ask you to have some blood tests.

Once all the examination and tests are completed your oral surgeon will confirm your diagnosis and give you an explanation of what may be possible to help.

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Possible Treatments

  • Consultation with advice.
  • Medication for pain – sometimes tablets sometimes numbing patches. Often, we refer the patient back to their doctor if medication is needed.
  • Surgery
  • Other techniques including; laser, ultrasound, piezosurgery

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Having an operation?

Do you understand what is happening?

You should have a clear idea of what your treatment options are and their related cost and future need for maintenance. If you are not sure always ask your clinician for clarification and if youre not satisfied ask for another opinion or for further written clarification

The General Dental Council (one of the regulatory body for dentistry) outlines the essential need to obtain valid consent http://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle3/principle3.aspx

General guidance for consent in surgery https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library-and-publications/college-publications/docs/consent-good-practice-guide/

Specific consent for wisdom teeth – Get well soon Wisdom teeth surgery information for patients (PDF)

If you are receiving treatment with intravenous sedation, this short animation explains how to prepare for, and act after, your treatment:

What do you need to know?

Having an operation http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/surgery/Pages/Introduction.aspx

What to do in the days leading up to surgery, and your pre-operative assessment http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/preparing-for-surgery.aspx

Arriving at hospital, information for visitors, and what happens before you go into theatre http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/the-day-of-the-operation.aspx

Coming round from the operation and being discharged from hospital http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/after-surgery.aspx

General advice and typical recovery times http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/surgery/Pages/getting-back-to-normal.aspx

Anaesthesia  http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaesthesia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

General anaesthesia http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaesthetic-general/Pages/Definition.aspx

Local anaesthesia http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaesthetic-local/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Conscious sedation http://www.sdcep.org.uk/published-guidance/sedation/

Good perioperative oral care  

BAOS Post operative instructions Download document

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Who’s Who in the surgical team

Information from the Royal College of Surgeons on the grades and responsibilities of medical and nursing staff in surgical units … https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/gsp/

Good surgical practice RCS Eng 2014 (PDF) ***

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Complaints and the NHS Constitution

The Constitution sets out rights for patients, public and staff. It outlines NHS commitments to patients and staff, and the responsibilities that the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. All NHS bodies and private and third sector providers supplying NHS services are required by law to take account of the Constitution in their decisions and actions.

The Constitution sets out a commitment for government to produce an up-to-date Statement of NHS Accountability to explain how decision-making works in the NHS – this is included in the ‘Guide to the Healthcare System in England’.

The complaints guidance explains how patients can give feedback or make a complaint about NHS care or treatment. It includes information on the NHS complaints arrangements, and what patients can expect when they make a complaint. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england.

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