If your dentist has told you to see a maxillofacial surgeon in Gurunanak Colony, Vijayawada, you may be worried and unsure what comes next. Most referrals are routine. At GIA Clinics on Club Road, Dr Sai Santosh sees patients who have been sent with an X-ray finding, a sore that has not healed or a tooth that is too difficult to remove in a general setting. This page tells you how to prepare.
Common reasons for a referral
A shadow on an X-ray. Cysts and growths in the jaw often cause no pain and are found by chance. Many are harmless, but they still need a proper diagnosis.
A lump, patch or ulcer in the mouth. An ulcer that has not healed in about two weeks, or a red or white patch, should be examined. A small sample, called a biopsy, gives a clear answer. Treat it as a way to get certainty, and try not to assume the worst.
A tooth that needs a surgeon. Deeply impacted teeth, or roots close to a nerve, are often better handled by a surgeon.
What to bring
- Your referral note, if you were given one
- The X-rays or scans, including digital files
- Any biopsy or blood reports
- A list of your medicines, particularly blood thinners and bone medicines
- Notes on when you first noticed the problem
How a biopsy visit works
Under local anaesthesia, a small piece of tissue is taken in the minor operation theatre, often with a stitch or two. It goes for testing. You go home with written aftercare advice, and Dr Sai goes through the report with you at your review, about a week later.
How a jaw cyst is managed
An OPG X-ray is taken in-house, and a CT scan is arranged if more detail is needed. Your written plan explains the surgery, the anaesthesia, the recovery and the alternatives. Smaller procedures happen at the clinic, while larger ones are planned in a hospital setting.
Keeping your dentist informed
Your care does not have to move away from your own dentist. Once the surgical problem has been dealt with, you can return for your routine work, and it helps to share the outcome.
Seeing Dr Sai on Club Road
Dr Sai is at Gurunanak Colony from 12:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Call or WhatsApp 092814 93949 and tell the front desk why you were referred.