BDS, BSc, PG Dip (Implant Pros), PG Cert (PDC)
GDC number: 264557
Iain started his career in healthcare as an intensive care nurse, working in multiple critical care units both in the UK and Australia caring for patients with life threatening illnesses and injuries.
Following a career change into the field of dentistry and after completing his foundation training in a general dental practice, he went on to do further hospital training in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. During his training years he worked as a senior house officer in Poole General Hospital as part of the head and neck surgical team. He also underwent further training at Dundee dental hospital in the oral surgery department where he had a varied weekly clinic timetable including minor oral surgery, oral medicine, supervising student extraction clinics, dysplasia clinics, a paediatric general anaesthetic list and intravenous sedation.
Following his hospital training years, he then worked as a speciality doctor at a maxillofacial department in Devon. His role here was assessing and treating referrals from GPs and dentists on a variety of head and neck conditions including acute dental pathology, trauma, orthodontic surgery, cancer, and oral medicine. A large part of his work was surgically removing teeth, both in a district general hospital setting as well as a community clinic. Whilst in Devon he also worked for Devon Doctors, managing referrals from the NHS 111 service by giving advice over the phone or by treating patients in an urgent care clinic on bank holidays and weekends.
Moving to London in 2021, he now splits his time between general practice with a special interest in oral surgery and implants. He works two days a week at Royal London Dental Hospital London as a clinical lecturer in oral surgery supervising and teaching undergraduate dental students.
Iain has a strong connection to Poole from his time working at Poole Hospital and with immediate family living in the area
Iain is currently accepting dentist referrals and direct patient self-referrals for any tooth extractions including impacted wisdom teeth, buried roots, failed extractions and complex tooth extractions under local anaesthetic at Dentistry@68.
An extraction refers to the procedure of removing a tooth from the jaw bone. A tooth usually has a crown (the part above the gum that is seen when you look in the mouth) and roots (which is the part you usually don’t see under the gum). The crown is around a third of the total length of the tooth, where the roots make up the remaining two thirds. For one tooth there can be anywhere between one to four roots.
Different factors can influence the complexity of an extraction – ranging from the amount of bone around the tooth, the tooths position to important structures or the shape and size of the roots. Sometimes the teeth can be in an awkward position which can make them challenging to remove.
Refer your patientIain is a qualified oral surgeon with extensive experience in both hospital and community settings. He has worked in various critical care units and oral surgery departments, treating a wide range of patients and conditions.
Currently, Iain practices general dentistry with a focus on oral surgery and implants. He also teaches at Queens Mary Hospital London and is accepting referrals for tooth extractions, including complex cases.
Iain is currently accepting dentist referrals and direct patient self-referrals for any tooth extractions including impacted wisdom teeth, buried roots, failed extractions and complex tooth extractions under local anaesthetic at Dentistry@68.
During an extraction, we will explain the procedure, the risks and benefits, and then ask you to sign a consent form. Following this, local anaesthetic will be given to the area to ensure the tooth is numb during the procedure. For most cases, this is usually enough to keep you comfortable.
If you feel you may struggle to go ahead with the procedure due to your high anxiety levels, we have sedation services to help you relax.
Refer your patientThere are several reasons why an extraction may be required. The most common reason is due to infection or decay, leading to a lot of pain and discomfort. If the tooth is unrestorable, then usually the most appropriate treatment is to remove it. Broken teeth can be left, however there is always a risk of developing pain and infection, whether that’s in the near or distant future. We usually do not advise to leave them for this reason. If the tooth can be saved (ie the decay is not too advanced) then sometimes root canal treatment may be offered.
There are general risks when removing any kind of teeth. The most common are post operative pain, bleeding, bruising, swelling, limited mouth opening (trismus) and infection. These symptoms are usually mild and self-limiting. However, if you smoke or have a more extensive medical history they can be more severe.
Risks can differ depending on the type of tooth that is being extracted. We will ensure to keep you fully informed before the procedure so you can make an informed decision.
For most patient undergoing extractions they have minimal discomfort, which can be simply managed with over the counter pain relief. If your extraction was particularly tricky, you may have more moderate discomfort for a few days afterwards, especially if you experience post operative swelling.
You will be numb for around 2-3 hours since the anaesthetic was given, so you need to be careful not to bite your lip or tongue during this time. We usually recommend waiting for the anaesthetic to wear off before eating, but you can drink cold drinks if needed (preferably over a sink as you may dribble).
You can usually return to work the same day providing your job does not involve a lot of heavy lifting, or alternatively take the rest of the day off and return the following day. We strongly advise to not smoke after the procedure for at least 2 days but ideally longer. No alcohol should be consumed for at least 24 hours before and after the procedure as this can increase your bleeding risk.
We will discuss in detail what you should and shouldn’t do after the procedure, and also give you an opportunity to clarify any questions you may have. If after the procedure you have questions, please contact the practice for further clarification.
68 Wimborne Road,
Poole,
Dorset,
BH15 2BZ
Get directions from Google
Tel: 01202 673 037
