Oral surgery, do I need nhs referral?

essex_grl

I’m expecting my next dental appt to tell me I need my impacted wisdom removed. 

If I want to have this done privately, do I need a referral from my current dentist?

I don’t have insurance so would be self pay.
thanks xx

Toothsmith

I wouldn't get too far ahead of yourself. 

Impacted wisdom teeth don't always need to come out. In fact there are many good reasons for leaving them alone if you can. It's something that has to be weighed up. 

If this is the first time this tooth has caused problems, (if indeed the problem is that tooth) then it could just be bad luck that it's flared up, and it might easily be perfectly ok again once it's settled down again. 

The roots of the wisdom tooth are often quite close to a nerve that runs through your jaw and supplies feeling to your lip. Having a wisdom tooth out can cause damage to this nerve and leave you with a numb/tingling lip for some time afterwards, or permanently. 

So the position of the tooth has to be taken into account and set against how much trouble the tooth has caused in the past and likely to cause in the future. It's not an automatic given that the tooth will be taken out. 

You can find your own private oral surgeon or you can let your general dentist refer you to one.

Often hospital NHS oral surgery departments are perfectly efficient at seeing patients. I have a purely private practice, but have never needed to refer a patient for private oral surgery. The local hospital tends to see people in pretty decent time, and sorts people out quite acceptably. 

I know it's hard when you're in pain, but this episode will settle down, and when it does you'll be able to think more clearly about how you want to proceed. 

essex_grl

Thank you toothsmith.