A Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon has qualifications in both medicine and dentistry. The extensive nature of their training gives them the required expertise to treat and manage a number of complex conditions of the mouth, face, jaw, and neck.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a highly specialised field of medicine, with far fewer Consultants than in other medical specialities. We are delighted to offer an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery service here at The Harbour Hospital in Poole, Dorset.
Booking a private appointment directly with us provides you will expert, bespoke care. Why not contact us to book your visit today? We would be delighted to help you.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of problems involving the teeth, mouth, face, jaw, or neck.
Reasons you may choose to visit an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at The Harbour Hospital include:
- Adult Oral Surgery
- Surgical removal of wisdom teeth, buried roots, buried canine teeth, or impacted teeth
- Dental implants
- Facial reconstruction
- Treatment for cysts or tumours of the jaws
- Screening for Oral Cancer
- Biopsy and treatment of lesions of the head and neck - including the lip, mouth, roof of mouth, and tongue
- Management of problems affecting the soft tissue lining of the mouth – e.g. white patches and mouth ulcers
- Treatment of salivary gland problems and tumours, including stone removal
- Investigation and treatment of sinus problems
- Treatment of facial fractures and lacerations
- Treatment for disorders of the mandible (lower jaw) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
- Single and double jaw surgery (Bimaxillary Osteotomy)
- Investigation and treatment of facial or dental pain
- Surgery to correct dental or facial deformities
- Facial skin surgery
- Bone grafting
Due to the complexity of many types of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, you will normally be referred to us by your GP, dentist, a consultant in another speciality such as ENT or Dermatology or a maxillofacial specialist from outside the region.
Many treatments can be provided on-site at The Harbour Hospital, although particularly complex surgery may be carried out at an external venue. This will always be fully explained to you if this is required, and your Consultant will still be the person who carries out any treatment
When you first visit us at The Harbour Hospital, your Consultant will take a medical history and ask you in detail about your symptoms and any concerns you may have. They will ask you questions like:
- What symptoms do you have?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Do you have any pain in or around your head or neck?
- Have any symptoms been getting worse?
- Are you currently receiving any treatment (e.g. prescription medicine)?
- How is your general health? Do you have any underlying medical conditions?
They will often carry out a physical examination and may feel your neck to determine whether your lymph glands are swollen.
During your appointment, any previous imaging results, such as dental X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, will be reviewed. Where required, any of these can be easily arranged for you at the hospital if you haven’t previously had them, or they are not recent enough.
Similarly, we may refer you for further investigations, for diagnostic purposes or to help plan treatment.
This could include:
- X-ray (of individual teeth or the whole jaw – orthopantomography)
- CT or an MRI scan
- Blood tests
Once any results are back, your Consultant will be able to tailor a treatment plan for you. They will talk this through with you, explaining how any surgery will be done and the results you should expect from it. If you have any questions or concerns, they will be very happy to discuss these with you
If treatment is required, we will arrange for this to start as soon as possible.
At The Harbour Hospital, we provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for people aged 18+. While many of our patients are from Poole and the surrounding areas, others travel from further afield.
We treat people with private medical insurance and self-pay patients.
Many treatments can be provided on-site, while others may need to be carried out at an external venue (such as Poole Hospital). Any treatment will always be carried out by the Consultant you see at The Harbour Hospital, and they will continue to oversee and manage your care.
When you book a private Oral and Maxillofacial appointment with us, you will benefit from:
- Rapid access – On the NHS, many people are often frustrated with long waiting times, as it means assessment and treatment can be delayed. We can help you access the support you need sooner. A private appointment avoids delays and gives you fast access to an experienced Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.
- More time for you – Your private appointment provides you more time with your Consultant to discuss your symptoms and to talk through any questions or concerns you may have. In some healthcare settings, it can be easy to feel like you’re being hurried out the door as soon as you arrive! Rest assured this will not be your experience when you visit with us.
- Easy-to-book appointments – Private appointments are quick and easy to book. While most people still like to come to the hospital for an in-person appointment, we can provide remote appointments by telephone or video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
- Consultant-led care – You will always see the same Consultant when you visit and will never have to worry about being treated by a more junior doctor. Your Consultant will oversee every aspect of your care, from initial appointment through to post-treatment follow-up. This ensures excellent continuity of care.
- Fast turnaround of diagnostic tests – On-site radiologists report on X-rays, ultrasound and MRI and CT scans promptly, so that the results are back with your consultant as soon as possible. With a faster diagnosis, treatment can be planned earlier.
- A wider team – Your Consultant can discuss complex cases with specialists in other fields when required, including ENT surgeons, oncologists, and dermatologists. Quick and easy access to this wider healthcare team ensures you will always benefit from the optimal treatment and highest levels of care.
- Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 98.6% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend us to their friends and family.
Our experienced Consultants can help with all aspects of Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck Surgery. If you have any concerns, it is easy to book a private appointment to help give you clarity about the best way forward.
Your Consultant will investigate the cause(s) of any symptoms or concerns, confirm a diagnosis, and tailor a treatment plan just for you. If a soft tissue biopsy, removal of an impact wisdom tooth, or any other type of surgery is needed, this will be arranged for the earliest possible date.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to The Harbour Hospital and helping you to access the Consultant-directed support you need.
