Oral surgery: Considerations for the younger patient.

The need for oral surgery will, for many younger patients, precipitate their first significant interaction with healthcare professionals; this will inevitably impact on the planning and delivery of their treatment.This paper will describe the range of oral surgical procedures which are most commonly performed on younger patients. It will explore the indications for treatment, the techniques used to promote successful treatment outcomes, and the role of general dental practitioners in the management of younger patients undergoing oral surgery. Consideration will be given to the unique challenges encountered when undertaking surgical procedures in younger patients with a dentition which is still developing.