Surgery of the hard and soft tissues supporting the teeth

Surgery of the hard and soft tissues supporting the teeth (dento-alveolar surgery)

This specialist surgery offered to our patients by the oral and maxillofacial surgical team deals with the part of the bone of the jaw which supports the teeth (known as the alveolus). Approximately 50% of the surgery conducted by Barts and The London Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team is dedicated to dento-alveolar surgery for both children and adults.

Impacted tooth

An impacted tooth is any tooth that is prevented from reaching its normal position in the mouth by tissue, bone, or another tooth. The teeth that most commonly become impacted are the canine teeth in teenagers and the wisdom teeth in young adults. If left untreated they can cause a number of oral health problems such as infections or displacement of other teeth. For some patients, impacted teeth can be removed by general dental practitioners, but if patients require complex surgery such as removing part of the bone to free the tooth (this carries risk of nerve injury), then our oral and maxillofacial surgeons will provide specialist surgery for these patients.

Jaw cysts

Jaw cysts can only be detected by x-ray. Many types of jaw cysts can occur and affect the bone and tissues of the jaw. Some jaw cysts form from the tissue close to the soft tissue from which teeth develop in early life. If left untreated, they may progress to cause pain, infection and deformity of the jaw bone. Jaw cysts can become uncomfortable for patients when they become large. Treatment includes the surgical removal of the cyst.