Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck.

OMF surgery is unique in requiring a dual qualification in medicine and dentistry, and is often seen as the bridge between medicine and dentistry, treating conditions that require expertise from both backgrounds. We are a team of nine consultants.

We are a well-established service serving the local population of East Lancashire and Bolton. We all undertake all routine oral surgery dentoalveolar procedures including impacted teeth, complex extractions and cysts/lesions of the jaws for adults and children.

We see patients for oral medicine conditions relating to the mouth and jaws including benign lumps, white patches, mouth ulcers, facial pain and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

We offer face to face or telephone consultations. For patients who need urgent referrals, we have a policy to see them within two weeks.

We offer sub-specialty services in a number of areas

• Facial skin cancer and reconstruction
  We offer skin cancer treatment to over 1000 patients per year
• Head and neck cancer
  Including complex free tissue micro-vascular reconstruction
• Trans Oral Robot-assisted Surgery (TORS)
• Orthognathic surgery for patients with facial deformity and for obstructive sleep apnoea
  We have joint planning with the three Consultant Orthodontists at ELHT
• Facial trauma management for adults and children above two years
• Salivary gland diseases
• Oral and facial rehabilitation following cancer and trauma surgery
  We have joint planning with the Consultant Restorative Dentist at ELHT
• Maxillofacial laboratory with 3D model printing service and digital surgical planning
• Management of severe infections related to the head and neck

The unit participates in clinical trials and is developing several research strands in all aspects of the service. The unit is part of the National for Quality Outcomes for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and several other national research projects, including head and neck cancer, skin cancer and robotic surgery. We are an innovative and dynamic team always looking for new methods and technology to help treat the population of East Lancashire and Bolton with their face and mouth conditions.

We have a strong emphasis on teaching and have close links with several universities including UCLAN Medical School, Lancaster Medical School, University of Leeds, and University of Manchester. Both dental and medical students have regular placements in our department participating in audit and research.

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