Oral & maxillofacial surgery in Bath

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a highly specialised field of medicine, focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of complex conditions affecting the head and neck.

To work as a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon, a doctor must be qualified in both medicine and dentistry. As a result of this extensive training, there are far fewer Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons in the UK than there are consultants working in other medical specialities. We are privileged to have an experienced surgeon working on-site at Bath Clinic, available to help you with your queries and concerns. 

Whether you are in pain from an impacted wisdom tooth, frustrated by a clicking jaw, concerned about an unexplained swelling in the neck, or worried about a lesion on your face or in your mouth, you will appreciate being able to see somebody for help as soon as possible, without having to wait weeks (or even months). 

When you book a private appointment directly with us, whether through your private medical insurance or as a self-pay patient, you will benefit from a personal approach to care tailored just for you, fast access to diagnostic investigations when needed, opening hours to suit your availability, and quick access to an experienced Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. 

Oral and Maxillofacial surgery involves the diagnosis and treatment of a range of conditions, diseases and injuries of the teeth, mouth, face, jaw and neck.

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon working at Bath Clinic can provide assessment for a variety of conditions and symptoms, including: 

• Adult Oral Surgery
• Facial reconstruction
• Screening for Oral Cancer
• Biopsy and treatment of lesions of the lip, mouth, roof of mouth and tongue 
• Management of problems affecting the soft tissue lining of the mouth, such as white patches and mouth ulcers
• Salivary gland problems and benign tumours, including looking into stone removal
• Sinus problems
• Treatment of facial fractures and lacerations
• Surgery to correct dental and facial deformities
• Facial skin surgery 
• Bone grafting 

Treatment for many of these conditions can be arranged for you on-site at Bath Clinic. Some conditions may need to be carried out an external venue, or require referral to a specialist in another field (e.g. oncology). Your consultant will discuss this with you where appropriate and make the necessary arrangements for you.

Please note that acute trauma to the head and neck should always be assessed and treated initially within the NHS.

Many of the treatments carried out by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon are highly complex. As a result, most of the people we see have been referred to us by their GP or dentist, another maxillofacial specialist from outside the region or a consultant in another speciality. 

A medical referral can be helpful as it ensures we have access to your medical history, previous scan results etc., all of which can help inform a diagnosis and help when planning treatment.  

When you first meet with your consultant here at Bath Clinic, they will talk in detail with you about your symptoms and what is concerning you. They will want to know things like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did you first notice them?
• Have your symptoms been getting worse over time?
• Do you have any pain around your face or neck?
• Do you have any particular concerns about your symptoms (for example, are you worried you may have some type of cancer?)
• Have you received any previous treatment for these symptoms?
• How is your general health? Do you have any underlying medical conditions?

Where required, they will also carry out a clinical examination of the affected area(s).

Many people who visit us have often already had dental X-rays or other scans carried out previously, and these can be helpful for your consultant to review. Other investigations may be needed to help diagnosis and/or treatment planning.

Most commonly, these are diagnostic scans such as CT, MRI, or ultrasound. Standard X-rays can also be done, either of individual teeth or the whole jaw (orthopantomography). If any of these are required, we will arrange for you to have them at Bath Clinic in our Diagnostic Imaging department. Our on-site radiologists provide a fast turnaround of reporting on scans, so the results will be back with your consultant as quickly as possible.

A biopsy may be required sometimes. This involves removing a tiny sample of tissue which is then sent away for analysis under a microscope. We will arrange this for you as soon as possible.

Your consultant will use your clinical history, the physical examination, and the results of any further investigations to make a diagnosis. They will discuss this with you and explain suitable treatment options with you. If surgery is required, they will explain how it will be done, the results you should expect to see, and any complications or potential risks you need to be aware of.

If your case is particularly complex, your consultant may discuss it with specialists in other fields, such as dermatology, ENT, and oncology.

You will always be given the information you need to make an informed choice about treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your diagnosis or treatment plan, your consultant will be very happy to discuss them with you during your private consultation.  

People visit Bath Clinic for their private Oral and Maxillofacial surgery consultation for a variety of reasons. Most are referred to us by their GP, dentist, orthodontist, or another healthcare professional such as a dermatologist or Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeon.

We treat self-pay patients and those with private medical insurance.

Many of our patients are from Bath and the surrounding areas, but people also travel from further afield to visit with us, including Wales and London.

When you visit with us for an Oral and Maxillofacial consultation, you will benefit from:

• Rapid access to an expert – Unfortunately, the pressures on the health service mean that it can often be quite a long wait to see somebody for assessment through the NHS. We can help you avoid waiting lists and long delays by arranging you a private consultation with an experienced Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon without delay. 
• Time for you - A private consultation provides much more time with your consultant. You will be able to discuss your symptoms and talk with them about any questions or concerns you may have without feeling hurried or rushed out the door.
• Flexible appointments – Private consultations are easy to book and can be scheduled to fit in with your availability.   
• Remote Consultations – While most private consultations with our Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon are normally carried out in person at The Bath Hospital, we can arrange remote consultations by telephone or online video call if required (and where clinically appropriate).
• Bespoke approach to treatment - With any type of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, treatment needs to be tailored to your precise needs to ensure you see the best results.
• Consultant-led care, always – You will see the same consultant each time you visit, and you will never have to worry about being treated by a more junior doctor. Your consultant will oversee each step of your care, from initial consultation and assessment through to diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and post-treatment follow-up. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, it is very easy to arrange another consultation by contacting their private secretary.
• Access to a wider team - Our Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon is highly experienced in their field. Within the hospital, they have fast, direct access to specialists in other areas of medicine, including ENT, dermatology, orthopaedics, dermatology, radiology, nursing, and anaesthetics. Access to this wider healthcare team ensures you will always see the most appropriate specialist.
• Recommended by patients - In an independent survey, 97.9% of the people we treated at Bath Clinic said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend us to their friends and family.
• Location – Bath Clinic is located around two miles from the centre of historic Bath and is very easy to travel to by private or public transport. Our 100-space private car park is free for patients and visitors, so you won’t have to worry about where to park when you visit us.
• Facilities - The hospital is situated within a beautifully landscaped setting, next door to a National Trust property. A far cry from the cold, clinical, often impersonal feel that many modern hospitals have, the historic exterior of the building offers access to a modern hospital with state-of-the-art equipment and friendly staff.

If you are feeling anxious, concerned, or just unsure about what to do for a problem with your teeth, mouth, face, jaw, or neck, it can be a relief to know that help is available, sooner than you may think. Why not contact us today to book your private consultation?

Your consultant will thoroughly investigate the cause(s) of your problem and explain treatment options available. If any kind of surgery is needed, it will be arranged for you as soon as possible. 

Whatever problem you are struggling with, and whether it requires surgery or another form of treatment, a private consultation will help give you clarity about the best way forward.

For peace of mind and known expert care, why not arrange your visit today? We look forward to welcoming you to Bath Clinic and helping you to access the support you need.