Oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Latviawhat they treat, where they operate and what the state covers

This surgeon works on disease, injury and deformity of the mouth, face and jaws. It is the border field between dentistry and surgery.

The clinic description at the RSU Institute of Stomatology refers to specialist treatment of patients with inflammatory processes, trauma, tumours, and congenital and acquired deformities.

• Facial and jaw trauma and fractures
• Infection in the mouth and facial region
• Jaw and soft tissue cysts
• Benign lesions on facial skin, lips and in the mouth
• Complex dental extractions
• Jaw joint dysfunction and pain
• Salivary gland disease
• Congenital facial and jaw deformity

The Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Centre at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital states that it performs dental extractions under general anaesthesia, including under the state programme for:

• Patients with first-group disability determined on the basis of mental and behavioural disorders.
• Children under 18.

It also states that Chernobyl clean-up participants receive a 50 per cent discount on dental services and full cover for removable plastic dentures, though this service is not provided at the Pilsoņu iela 13 site.

Other operations may be private or state-funded depending on the diagnosis and the provider's contract with the National Health Service. Facial plastic surgery for aesthetic reasons is a private service.

Rīga Stradiņš University states that the residency programme aims to ensure that a doctor who has completed the Faculty of Medicine obtains a dentistry degree and is prepared for certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

• Theory includes problem lectures once a month and seminars three times a month, being 33 seminars a year.
• Practical training follows the course plan, including on-call duty, covering the compulsory procedures.
• The state examination tests theoretical knowledge and requires defence of a research project.

• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points plus a 48.38 EUR fee.

• Type of surgery. Trauma, tumour and orthognathic surgery differ from aesthetic work, so ask about the surgeon's experience in the relevant area.
• General anaesthesia. If extractions under general anaesthesia are needed, choose a provider that offers it and check whether your case qualifies under the state programme.
• Day surgery. Some operations are performed as day cases with discharge the same day.
• Working with an orthodontist. Orthognathic surgery normally requires orthodontic treatment before and after.
• Second opinion. A second opinion before jaw surgery is accepted practice.

The specialty body is the association "Latvijas Mutes, sejas un žokļu ķirurgu asociācija", registration number 40008265539, contacts Andris Bīgestāns and Ieva Bāgante, mszka.lv.

Related fields are represented by the Latvian Dental Association, registration number 40008034096, the Latvian Orthodontic Association, registration number 50008126621, and the Latvian Association of Surgeons, registration number 40008004246.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association. The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.

If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the provider's management. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site.