The indication
Clarify the problem the procedure addresses and the benefit sought in your circumstances.
Ask your professionalWhat are we aiming to achieve for me?
Published catalogue
Understand medical procedures
Move from a major medical family to a specialty, then to the clinical branch that helps you understand each intervention in context.
Medical procedures
Explore progressively by family, specialty and clinical branch — or use search and the alphabet for direct access.
Starting point · Dental & maxillofacial
Matching procedures
33 procedures
Dentistry · Implant dentistryDental implantA dental implant places an artificial root in the jawbone to support a future crown or prosthesis after healing and integration. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Restorative dentistry and prosthodonticsDental veneersDental veneers are thin coverings bonded to the visible tooth surface; preparation may irreversibly remove enamel. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Restorative dentistry and prosthodonticsDental crownsA dental crown covers a prepared tooth to restore shape, protection or function; the underlying tooth and gum health remain important. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Dental and oral surgeryDental extraction and oral surgeryDental extraction and oral surgery remove a tooth, root, cyst or infected tissue and may include apicoectomy, drainage, frenectomy or alveolar reshaping according to the problem. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Implant dentistryDental bone grafting and sinus liftDental bone augmentation may use grafts, guided regeneration, ridge expansion or sinus elevation to create or preserve support for a planned implant or prosthesis. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Implant dentistryFull-arch implant rehabilitationFull-arch implant rehabilitation supports a fixed or removable complete prosthesis on several implants and requires separate planning of surgery, temporary teeth, final prosthesis and maintenance. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Implant dentistryDental implant revision or removalDental implant revision investigates mobility, fracture, tissue loss, infection or prosthetic failure and may involve decontamination, grafting, component exchange or implant removal. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · EndodonticsRoot canal treatmentRoot canal treatment removes infected or damaged pulp, cleans and fills the canal system, then requires an adequate coronal seal or restoration. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · EndodonticsEndodontic retreatment or surgeryEndodontic retreatment reopens and disinfects a previously treated canal, while endodontic surgery approaches the root tip; both differ from extraction and implant replacement. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · PeriodonticsPeriodontal surgeryPeriodontal surgery uses flap access, gingivectomy, gingivoplasty or crown lengthening to treat selected gum and supporting-tissue problems after periodontal assessment. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · PeriodonticsGum grafting and periodontal regenerationGum grafting and periodontal regeneration add soft tissue or regenerative materials around teeth or implants to address selected recession or supporting-tissue defects. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Restorative dentistry and prosthodonticsFillings, inlays and onlaysFillings restore tooth tissue directly, while inlays and onlays are fabricated outside the mouth and bonded or cemented; material choice and remaining tooth structure matter. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Dentistry · Restorative dentistry and prosthodonticsDental bridges and denturesBridges are fixed replacements supported by teeth or implants, while partial or complete dentures are removable; support, hygiene, speech, chewing and future adjustment differ. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Maxillofacial Surgery · Jaw surgery and facial traumaOrthognathic surgeryOrthognathic surgery repositions one or both jaws to address skeletal discrepancy, bite and function, usually with orthodontic planning. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Maxillofacial Surgery · Oral and dentoalveolar surgeryWisdom tooth removalWisdom tooth removal may require gum incision, bone removal or tooth sectioning depending on position and nearby nerves. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Maxillofacial Surgery · Jaw surgery and facial traumaFacial fracture repairFacial fracture repair aims to restore bone alignment, bite, eye support and facial function using reduction and fixation when required. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Maxillofacial Surgery · Oral and dentoalveolar surgeryOral biopsyAn oral biopsy removes a small sample from a mouth or jaw lesion for laboratory diagnosis; biopsy type and site depend on the lesion. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.Maxillofacial Surgery · Oral and dentoalveolar surgeryApicoectomyApicoectomy treats a selected infection around a tooth-root tip by accessing the root through the gum and removing affected tissue. This page explains the questions to ask and the continuity of care to plan.
Before deciding
Understand a procedure before considering it
A procedure page helps you understand an intervention. Its suitability for you is discussed with a professional, considering your circumstances, the options and what matters in your life.
Understand the purpose. Explore the options. Prepare what comes next.
The alternatives
Consider other options and the possible consequences of waiting or having no intervention.
Ask your professionalWhat other possibilities should we discuss?
Preparation
Share your medicines and medical history. Clarify the tests and instructions appropriate to the planned procedure.
Ask your professionalWhat individual instructions should I receive before my appointment?
What happens
Ask about the steps, the team and, where relevant, the anaesthesia.
Ask your professionalWhat will actually happen during the procedure?
Aftercare and recovery
Plan support at home, appointments and the return to activities with your care team.
Ask your professionalWhat follow-up should be arranged after discharge?
Risks and complications
Ask about risks relevant to you, uncertainties and what to do if difficulties arise.
Ask your professionalWho should I contact and which signs mean I should seek help?
Your questions, ready for the consultation
Write down your priorities and anything that remains unclear. Ask for explanations in a language you understand.
- What benefit can I reasonably expect?
- What might change the decision?
- Which documents and contacts should I keep afterwards?
These pointers help you prepare a discussion with a professional. They do not establish an individual indication or a preparation or recovery protocol.
Sources and reading context
NHS resources in English. The surgery pages address surgical procedures; arrangements for other procedures should be clarified with the relevant team. Local processes may differ.
- Discussing surgery with a specialist NHS · Seeing a specialist — Having an operation (surgery)
- Preparing for surgery NHS · Before surgery — Having an operation (surgery)
- Planning aftercare and discharge NHS · After surgery — Having an operation (surgery)
- Understanding consent to treatment NHS · Consent to treatment
Sources accessed on 14 September 2026
Continue with the right medical context.
Compare the related specialty and use the Guide to understand destinations, preparation and the questions to ask a professional.