Treatments

Oral Surgery

Oral surgery covers procedures on the teeth, gums and jawbone beyond routine fillings or cleanings — from a simple extraction to bone grafting that prepares the jaw for an implant. Some procedures are handled in general practice; others are referred to a specialist.

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At a Glance

A broad category

From a routine extraction to bone grafting and sinus lifts that prepare the jaw for an implant — oral surgery spans simple and highly specialised procedures.

Local anaesthesia, sometimes sedation

Simple procedures are typically done under local anaesthesia alone. Longer or more involved surgery sometimes adds sedation to help an anxious patient stay comfortable.

Healing time varies

A simple extraction heals in about one to two weeks. Bone grafting and sinus lifts commonly need several months of healing before further treatment.

Sometimes referred out

Simpler procedures are often handled by a general dentist. More complex surgery is commonly referred to a colleague with specific surgical training.

What Falls Under Oral Surgery

Oral surgery is a broad category. At the simpler end it includes routine tooth extractions that any general dentist typically handles. At the more complex end it includes bone grafting, sinus lifts, and surgical revision of implants — procedures many general and cosmetic-focused dentists refer to a colleague with specific surgical training. Many of these procedures exist to make other treatments possible: bone grafting and sinus lifts are often what turns “not enough bone for an implant” into “implant placement is now possible,” and extractions clear the way for dentures, bridges, or a healthier mouth generally.

Procedures This Covers

Extractions

A simple extraction lifts out a tooth that's fully visible above the gumline. A surgical extraction is needed when a tooth is broken below the gumline or has complex roots.

Bone grafting and sinus lifts

Bone grafting rebuilds jawbone that has thinned or shrunk. A sinus lift adds bone height in the upper back jaw when the sinus sits too close for an implant.

Implant-related surgery

Implant revision addresses a problem with an existing implant, such as a loosening abutment or inflammation around it. Implant removal is needed if an implant fails to integrate or fractures.

Soft tissue grafting

Adds or repositions gum tissue, most commonly to cover roots exposed by gum recession or to build up thin tissue around an implant or natural tooth.

How a Procedure Is Chosen and Done

Assessment

Every procedure starts with an exam, and often X-rays or a 3D scan, to work out exactly what a case needs before treatment begins.

Anaesthesia decision

Simple procedures are typically done under local anaesthesia alone. More involved or longer surgery sometimes adds sedation, chosen based on complexity and patient anxiety.

The procedure

What happens next depends entirely on the procedure — from lifting a tooth out in one piece to placing graft material and a barrier membrane at a bone site.

Recovery and follow-up

Simple procedures usually mean mild discomfort managed with over-the-counter relief. More involved surgery brings more noticeable swelling, prescribed medication, and a longer recovery.

Before you decide

Not sure whether this applies to your teeth?

The only way to know is an examination. Ask a question first if you would rather understand the options before booking anything.

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When Referral Is the Honest Answer

Not every oral surgery procedure is one a general or cosmetic-focused practice necessarily performs directly. Simple procedures such as routine extractions are commonly handled in general practice, while more complex surgery — sinus lifts, extensive bone grafting, implant revision — is often referred to a colleague with specific surgical training. This is common and normal in dentistry, not a sign anything is wrong with a case. Which category a given procedure falls into is worth asking about directly.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a simple and a surgical tooth extraction?

A simple extraction removes a tooth that’s fully visible above the gum, lifted out in one piece under local anaesthesia. A surgical extraction is needed when a tooth is broken below the gumline, has complex root shapes, or hasn’t fully erupted, and may require a small gum incision or sectioning the tooth.

Do I need a bone graft before getting an implant?

Only if a 3D scan shows there isn’t enough bone volume or density at the planned implant site. Not every implant case needs grafting — many patients have sufficient natural bone. Where grafting is needed, it’s usually done as a preparatory step, with healing time built in before implant placement follows.

What is a sinus lift, and why would I need one?

A sinus lift adds bone height in the upper back jaw when the sinus cavity sits too close to the jawbone surface for an implant to be placed safely there. It’s specifically relevant to upper back teeth, since that’s where the sinus is anatomically closest to the bone.

Will I be awake during oral surgery?

For most procedures, yes — local anaesthesia numbs the area while you stay fully conscious. For longer or more involved procedures, or for patients who feel anxious, conscious sedation can be added so you remain relaxed but still responsive, rather than being fully asleep as with general anaesthesia.

What is peri-implantitis, and how is it treated?

Peri-implantitis is inflammation and bone loss around a dental implant, similar in concept to gum disease around a natural tooth, usually caused by a bacterial infection at the implant site. Treatment ranges from deep cleaning around the implant to, in more advanced cases, surgical treatment or implant revision or removal.

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