Oral Surgery & Oral Medicine

Why Do I Need to See an Oral Surgeon?

Oral Surgeons are dentists who have completed at least three years of postgraduate training in surgical care of the mouth and surrounding structures, and gain recognition from the General Dental Council for their additional skills.

This includes mastering techniques for removing teeth, including difficult cases such as impacted wisdom teeth or teeth that have become fragile. This expertise helps Oral Surgeons to perform even the most difficult extractions safely and comfortably, while giving you the reassurance that your care is being handled by a clinician who is fully up-to-date with best practice. This is particularly important when teeth are going to be replaced by a dental implant.

In addition to removing teeth, Oral Surgeons are also qualified to perform procedures such as biopsies and cyst removals, which general dentists do not typically perform. They also have additional medical knowledge and experience, allowing them to safely administer IV sedation and treat patients with complex medical histories or conditions.

Our practice-based Oral Surgery service means we can offer this specialised care without the need to wait on long waiting lists or travel to busy dental hospitals.

What is Oral Surgery?

Oral Surgery is the branch of dentistry that involves the diagnosis and treatment of problems and abnormalities within the mouth, teeth, gums, and jaw.

There are many different types of Oral Surgery, and through Oral Surgery Scotland we accept referrals for:

- Wisdom tooth surgery
- Routine and complex tooth removals
- Jaw-joint issues
- Lumps, bumps and changes in the mouth
- Patients with complex medical histories or hidden disabilities
- Dental anxiety

Oral Surgeons work closely with GPs, general dental practitioners and other specialists in dentistry, medicine, and surgery to ensure you receive the very best care.

Meet Dr Kershaw...

We are luck to have Dr Audrey Kershaw as part of our team at Forfar Dental Care. Dr Audrey Kershaw, who brings over 35 years’ clinical experience and a wealth of knowledge on all things surgical in dentistry. Since qualifying from the University of Glasgow in 1987, Audrey has earned a Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and is recognised for her skills through her place on the General Dental Council’s Specialist List for Oral Surgery.

Audrey’s career has taken her all over the UK, gaining experience at nationally recognised centres for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery before settling into an Associate Specialist post at Dundee Dental Hospital and School in 1998, where she practised and taught until 2017. Through this, she has been involved in the education of well over a thousand of Scotland’s dentists.

Audrey now focuses primarily on patient-facing work, taking her peripatetic Oral Surgery and IV Sedation service throughout Scotland and enjoying the clinical freedom to emphasise her patient-centred and holistic approach alongside the highest standards of care. Additionally, Audrey works with the Scottish Government’s focus group on Rare Diseases and the Ehlers-Danlos Society, and lectures several times a year.

Audrey takes particular pride in helping patients who are anxious about dental treatment, who struggle to go numb at the dentist or who find dental treatment difficult due to complex medical histories and hidden disabilities. She very much understands that although what she does is routine to herself, to her patients it can be an unknown and daunting experience.

In her spare time, Audrey enjoys yoga and pilates and qualified as a yoga teacher in 2019. Audrey is also learning Spanish and loves spending time with her family and newly-qualified Therapets.

Our Specialist Services

Dental Extractions	Wisdom Tooth Surgery	Dental Anxiety & Sedation	TMJ (Jaw-Joint) & Facial Pain
Orthodontic Exposures	Oral Medicine	Oral Biopsies	Cyst Removal