This handbook is a guide for the general dentist who enjoys doing oral surgery. A broad range of knowledge and expertise in this area is found among dentists. Some have had extensive experience and training through general practice residencies, military or other postgraduate programs, or a mentoring experience with a more experienced dentist; others have had only minimal instruction and training in dental school. Dental school oral surgery training varies widely based on individual school requirements for graduation. In addition, some schools offer elective or extramural experiences, others do not. Even in the same dental school class, a few students might have the opportunity to perform extensive exodontia, but others will remove only a few teeth before moving on to private practice. This handbook is meant to diminish the discrepancy between experienced and inexperienced generalists and provide an information base for the interested clinician. This book presents a review of procedures and principles in each of several clinical surgical areas; this review will enable a dentist to perform according to established standards of care. It is assumed that the reader possesses fundamental knowledge and skills in oral anatomy, patient/operator positioning for surgery, the care of soft and hard tissue during surgery, and basic patient management techniques. Therefore, the authors have skipped to the crux of each procedure, addressing such things as case selection, step-by-step operative procedures, and the prevention and/or management of complications. This handbook will help dentists perform procedures more quickly, smoothly, easily, and safely—thereby greatly minimizing doctor frustration and patient dissatisfaction. The procedures covered in this book are also done by oral and maxillofacial surgeons and/or periodontists and endodontists. There are times that the patient would be better served by being referred to the specialist, such as when the patient is extremely apprehensive, medically compromised, an older patient with dense bone, or has other mitigating circumstances. This book will help readers more clearly understand the scope of each procedure and more accurately define their capabilities and comfort zones. Procedures described are mainly dentoalveolar in nature, such as “surgical” extractions, the removal of impacted wisdom teeth (mainly in younger patients), preprosthetic surgery, apicoectomy and retrofil cases, surgical crown lengthening, and biopsy. Supportive topics include patient evaluation and case selection and the management of problems such as bleeding and infection. One chapter involves logistical considerations and the use of basic surgical principles for those volunteering services in a third-world setting. This book is a ready reference for the surgery-minded general practioner. Within these pages, the authors share many pearls gleaned from years of experience and training to increase the readers’ confidence and competence.

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