Dentoalveolar Surgery

The alveolus is that part of the bone of the jaw which supports the teeth and may be involved in any disease process affecting the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures.

Dentoalveolar surgery, therefore, is the surgical management of diseases of the teeth and their supporting hard and soft tissues. It does not include dental surgery, (ie. the restoration of teeth and provision of crowns, bridges and other prostheses).

Impacted and ectopic (misplaced) teeth may result in a number of irreversible hard and soft tissue pathological conditions which can reach an advanced stage with minor or no symptoms, demanding a carefully balanced decision as to the timing of surgery.

Difficult impactions can be one of the most demanding procedures in maxillofacial surgery, carrying a significant risk of nerve injury and, without question, removal is most safely carried out by an experienced surgeon. In addition to the third molar, many other teeth have the potential for impaction, including pre-molar and canines and the expertise required to manage a full range of dentoalveolar presentations is considerable and remains a core activity of the speciality of oral & maxillofacial surgery.

There is a very large range of benign and cystic lesions of the mouth and jaws, including benign tumours, metabolic disorders of bone, many cystic lesions which are all progressive and can cause pain, infection, weakness and deformity of bone.