Frequently asked questions

An oral surgeon handles the surgical side of dentistry: teeth that cannot be removed straightforwardly, impacted wisdom teeth and canines, dental implants, bone and soft tissue grafting, exposing buried teeth for orthodontic treatment, biopsies, and the assessment of cysts and lesions in the mouth.

See the full list of procedures.

Oral surgery is performed routinely and is generally well tolerated, but like all surgery it carries risk. Common effects are swelling, bruising and discomfort. Less common are infection, bleeding, or altered sensation where a procedure sits close to a nerve.

The risks that genuinely apply to your case are identified from your examination and imaging, and explained to you before you decide anything.

Most oral surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic: the area is completely numb and you remain awake. Sedation can be discussed at consultation if you find dental treatment difficult.

What is suitable depends on your medical history, the procedure itself and the practice at which you are treated, so it is assessed individually rather than offered from a fixed list.

Yes. IV sedation is available for patients who feel particularly anxious about treatment or would prefer additional support during their procedure. A sedative is given through a small cannula in the hand or arm, helping you feel deeply relaxed while remaining conscious and able to respond.

IV sedation is not a general anaesthetic. Many patients find that they remember very little, if anything, about the procedure afterwards. Local anaesthetic is also used to ensure the treatment area is completely numb.

Sherif will assess whether sedation is suitable for you based on your medical history, medications and planned treatment. You will also need a responsible adult to accompany you home and follow the aftercare instructions provided, and you must not drive for 24 hours. Full detail on sedation.

Sherif practises at two Nottingham dental practices and also holds an NHS hospital post at Coventry University Hospitals. What is available to you depends on the practice you attend, the nature of the problem and NHS eligibility criteria.

This is explained clearly when you enquire, so you know where you stand before booking anything.

Removal is considered where a wisdom tooth is causing repeated infection, decay in itself or in the molar in front, gum disease, cysts, or persistent pain. Current UK guidance discourages removing wisdom teeth that are healthy and causing no problems.

Many impacted wisdom teeth cause no trouble and can simply be monitored. The difficulty arises when a tooth is partly through the gum, because that is hard to clean and can lead to repeated infection or decay in the neighbouring molar.

Monitoring is a legitimate option. Part of the point of an assessment is deciding which situation you are actually in.

A coronectomy removes the crown of a lower wisdom tooth while deliberately leaving the roots undisturbed. It is sometimes recommended where the roots lie very close to the nerve in the lower jaw, because it can reduce the risk of nerve injury compared with removing the whole tooth. It is not suitable in every case. More on wisdom teeth.

After a straightforward extraction, swelling and discomfort usually peak over the first two to three days and settle across the following week. More complex surgery, grafting or implant work takes longer.

You are given written aftercare instructions specific to your own procedure, along with a number to call if anything does not feel right.

Unless you have been advised otherwise, eat normally before your appointment and continue taking your usual medications. Please bring an up-to-date list of any medicines you take.

If you are having IV sedation, you will need a responsible adult to accompany you home and follow the specific instructions provided beforehand.

Wear something comfortable and, where possible, keep the rest of your day free so you can relax and recover after your procedure.

Most people need around two to three days to recover after a straightforward wisdom tooth extraction. More complex surgery, or a job involving physical activity, may require a little longer. Where possible, it is sensible to allow yourself a few quiet days after treatment to rest and recover.

Bone shrinks away in the months and years after a tooth is lost. Bone grafting rebuilds that missing volume so an implant has something solid to sit in.

A sinus lift is a particular form of grafting in the upper back jaw, where the sinus sits directly above the old root positions: the sinus floor is gently raised and graft material placed beneath it to create the height an implant needs.

A single implant replaces one tooth with one implant and one crown, leaving the teeth either side untouched. Full-arch treatment replaces all the teeth in a jaw using typically four to six implants that together support one fixed bridge — it is not one implant per tooth.

Which applies depends on how many teeth are missing or failing, the bone available and your own priorities. Compare the two approaches.

A straightforward single implant usually runs three to six months from placement to the final crown. That interval is the healing period during which bone fuses onto the implant. Cases needing grafting or a sinus lift take longer, because the graft is allowed to mature before implants are placed.

No. Suitability depends on the amount and quality of bone available, the health of your gums, your medical history and whether you smoke. Many people who have been told they have insufficient bone can still proceed after grafting or a sinus lift.

It can only be confirmed after an examination and appropriate imaging — which is what a consultation is for.

No. Referrals from dentists and GPs are welcome and common, but you are equally able to contact the practice directly and arrange a consultation yourself.

Yes. If you have been referred for a specific procedure, your routine dental care remains with your own dentist. Once treatment is complete, you will return to them for your ongoing care, and they will receive an update outlining the treatment provided and any recommended follow-up. See the referral pathway.

You leave with written aftercare instructions and a contact number in case something does not feel right. A review appointment is arranged where the procedure warrants it, and implant cases are reviewed at set points as treatment progresses.