PATIENTS with facial tumours, missing teeth or with a need for orthodontic braces will be seen by specialists working in the oral surgery department at Salisbury District Hospital.

The department has three specialities: oral and maxillofacial, oral surgery and orthodontics.

There is also a laboratory at the hospital providing prosthetics for people who, as a result of an accident or cancer, require new facial body parts such as an ear or nose.

Annalise McNair, a consultant orthodontist, said: “We all work together and see a lot of patients jointly. Our patients include those requiring braces treatment, those with a cleft palate or a discrepancy in their facial bones.

"They may have multiple missing teeth or a complex medical history.

“We have oncology patients who may have a facial tumour or salivary gland tumours inside the mouth or it may be the result of a trauma and they need surgery on their jaw or cheekbone.

"We do teeth extractions and take biopsies – samples of soft tissue – and undertake orthognathic surgery which is used to correct irregularities, including the misalignment of jaws and teeth.”

The team takes patients from across Wiltshire as well as Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset.

The team at SDH comprises an orthodontic consultant, an oral surgeon, two maxillofacial surgeons (who are qualified in both medicine and dentistry), two registrars, three junior doctors, three speciality doctors and three maxillofacial technicians.

Miss McNair said: “We share our sister with plastics and we have two staff nurses and about 10 dental nurses working full-time and part-time.

“The department is growing. While we are not actively recruiting at the moment a career in dental nursing can be very rewarding.

"There are opportunities to learn new areas like intravenous sedation which can help reduce stress for some patients having their teeth out.

“We look for friendly people who are able to build that patient rapport and have compassion.

"Some patients we only see once and discharge them but, depending on the treatment, it can take between 18 months and three years to complete orthodontic treatment so we can see patients every couple of months.”

After qualfiying from dental school Miss McNair undertook five years of training before then doing another five years of specialist training to become a consultant orthodontist.

“My dad was an orthodontist and I worked for him as a teenager,” she said.

“Twenty years in the job and he was still enthusiastic so I thought it must be a good job - I did dentistry and always thought I would end up like him in specialist practice but I realised I enjoyed the surgical side of things and the more complicated treatment.

“I did three years of specialist training. I then decided to stay on and do two further years.

“I also do some private practice. I enjoy meeting all the patients, it’s a really interesting job and I have good colleagues.”