title: A description of a specialist led primary care based oral surgery service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the establishment of a referral only oral surgery service in a primary care setting together with the challenges, benefits and successes of the service.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In 1994 waiting times for hospital for oral surgery and maxillofacial procedures were unacceptably long. A proposal to establish a primary care oral surgery service aimed to complement the hospital-based service, reduce treatment delays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Referrals commenced immediately in response to a managed launch with local dentists recognising the service as a source of expedient and convenient treatment for their patients. The service now treats up to 1300 patients per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New dental services to dentistry can encompass different specialities. Initial capital investment is needed to develop a more cost-effective service. Recruitment of suitable specialist staff is a critical for success. Staffing, organisation and funding must be sustained.
authors.affiliation: Correspondence to: Heather Pope, Clinical Director for Dental Services, East Cheshire NHS Trust, Eagle Bridge Health and Wellbeing Centre, Dunwoody Way, Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 3AW, UK. heather.pope@cecpct.nhs.uk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pope
mesh_terms: D003149:Community Dentistry / Q000458:organization & administration; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000458:organization & administration; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004739:England; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000458:organization & administration; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D014850:Waiting Lists