Oral surgeon in the UK - when is an appointment necessary?

Oral surgeon in the UK - when is an appointment necessary?

On 4 October 202325 June 2024In Dental surgery, Polish Dentist in the UK

An improperly erupted eighth, problems with the temporomandibular joint, or the need to lift the sinus floor - these are some of the few reasons when you will need to visit a surgeon. And what are the others, how much does such a visit cost and why you should choose an oral surgeon in the UK - welcome to the article. 

Problematic eighths

This is the most common reason patients go to an oral surgeon. Why?

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, wisdom teeth break down more often. The reason is their position in the jaw and their shape. The above often cause a lot of difficulty in maintaining proper oral hygiene.

Even if you take proper care of your teeth a visit to the surgeon A maxillofacial surgery may be necessary. This is the case if the eights have not erupted properly, which can consequently lead to malocclusion, but also other problems such as infections or a higher risk of tooth decay.

Important! It is a myth that eights always have to be removed. So when is it necessary? If you want to know the answer to this question, we recommend our article "Surgical removal of eights - when is it necessary and what is the procedure like".

The situation is different if an eighth or other tooth has fully formed but has not erupted.

The photograph shows prepared dental instruments on a tray, including various pliers and stainless steel surgical instruments, lying on a green tablecloth. Also visible is the dentist's hand wearing a protective glove, ready to work.

Oral surgeon in the UK - when is an appointment a must?

If you struggle with frequent headaches, feel constant pressure on your teeth and are frequently treated for infections then a possible cause of these problems is a retained tooth.

Often a fragment of it is visible in the mouth. However, it may be that a fully formed tooth has not completely penetrated and will only be visible on X-ray.

If you have the above symptoms, do not delay and make an appointment with your oral surgeon as soon as possible. 

Extraction will not always be necessary. There may be a chance to expose the tooth and order orthodontic treatment. However, if a retained tooth is causing compression of the others and increasing the risk of infection its removal is a necessity.

We wrote more extensively on this topic, as well as how much the treatment costs, in our article "Retained tooth - what exactly is it and does it always need to be removed".

The image shows a dentist in a white apron analysing an X-ray of a patient's teeth. The dentist is wearing black protective gloves on his hands and is looking closely at the X-ray. In the background, elements of the dental office equipment, such as a treatment lamp, are visible.

Progeny and elevation of the maxillary sinus floor

Only an oral surgeon can help in the above situations.  

Progenia is a malocclusion characterised by a protruded lower jaw. Its consequences are not only the patient's appearance, but also crowding of the teeth, or problems with maintaining proper oral hygiene. This, in turn, has a major impact on the appearance of caries or gingivitis.

Here, surgery is the only treatment option, followed by orthodontic treatment.

The same is true for a sinus floor lift. This may be necessary if you opt for implants. You can read more about this in our article 'Maxillary sinus lift in the UK - indications, course and price'.

A visit to the surgeon will also be a necessity if the jawbone is fractured. 

The image shows a female patient sitting in a dental chair during a dental appointment. The dentist is performing a procedure on her mouth and carefully examining the patient's teeth. The image also shows the equipment of the dental office, such as a treatment lamp and medical records.

Oral surgeon in the UK - why is it a good choice?

Surgical procedures always involve some risk. This is why it is so important to be looked after by a doctor and to be able to communicate with him or her during recovery.

An example is dry socket. When a tooth is extracted, a clot forms in its place. However, this one may fail to form or be removed for various reasons. The consequences can be fever, profuse bleeding and pain. In such situations, another visit is a must. If you have been treated outside the UK it may be difficult for you to get an appointment, find a flight etc overnight. It is also sometimes the case that doctors in the UK are reluctant to follow up treatment because they do not have full information about your treatment.

A common argument for getting treatment in Poland is the cost. If you are treated in smaller cities, the prices are slightly lower, but you have to add to them the expenses incurred for the flight. However, in large agglomerations, they are almost identical and sometimes even higher.

The photograph shows a dental office with a team of three professional staff. A man in a white apron is reviewing documents and two women are standing at a desk, one of them looking at him while the other deals with papers. The interior is bright and modernly decorated.

And what are the costs of oral surgery in the UK?

In our practice, surgical tooth extraction starts from £190, uncovering a retained tooth from £150 and a sinus lift from £800.You can find a full price list here. here.

We recognise that it is the cost of treatment often discourage a visit to the surgery. On the other hand, we know the importance of professional care after surgical procedures and that they are not worth putting off. 

That's why you can take advantage of the instalment system at our practice. Importantly, the first 12 months are zero interest. Thus, you only repay the expenses incurred for the treatment. The system is 100% secure, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 619628).

If you are interested in this option please contact with us or read more in our article "Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase".