Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Core concepts
Know the principles of exodontia, including assessment, consent, anaesthesia, and technique, and the management of complications such as bleeding, dry socket, infection, and nerve injury. Understand impacted third molar assessment and indications for removal. Know the principles of surgical flaps, suturing, and wound healing.
Trauma and infection
Master the assessment of maxillofacial trauma, including airway, bleeding, and fractures of the mandible and midface. Know the management of odontogenic infection: incision and drainage, antibiotic therapy, and recognition of spreading infections that threaten the airway. Understand biopsy technique and the principles of minor oral surgery.
Traps
Questions often test when antibiotics are indicated - for spreading infection or systemic involvement, not for a drained localised abscess. Another trap is failing to recognise airway-threatening infection (Ludwig's angina). Do not overlook bleeding risk in anticoagulated patients. Distinguish dry socket (pain after extraction with an empty socket) from infection.
Rule of thumb
In any facial swelling, assess the airway first; if there is difficulty swallowing, breathing, or swelling of the floor of the mouth, arrange urgent referral.
Worked example
A patient with a swelling under the jaw, trismus, and difficulty swallowing: suspect a spreading odontogenic infection, secure the airway, arrange urgent referral, and start appropriate antibiotic therapy alongside drainage.