Maxillofacial Surgery

  • If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or follow local emergency care protocols or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

    Dental Extractions (including wisdom teeth)

    • Traumatic tooth injuries with associated injuries including:
      • Large lacerations
      • Associated jaw fracture
    • Refer immediately in the presence of severe infection including:
      • Limited eye opening
      • Facial swelling
      • Increasing pain
      • ­Tinnitus
      • Dysphagia

    Facial Fractures

    • Cervicofacial infections with deep space and/or acute or potential airway compromise
    • Adult orbital fractures with vision compromise
    • Midface fractures with concern for retrobulbar haemorrhage
    • Facial trauma with uncontrolled haemorrhage

    Head and Neck Cancer

    • Cervicofacial infections with deep space and/or acute or potential airway compromise
    • New findings of symptomatic brain metastasis or leptomeningeal disease diagnosed in the community

    Other Maxillofacial Surgery

    • Cervicofacial infections with deep space and/or acute or potential airway compromise

  • Please note this is not an exhaustive list of all conditions for outpatient services and does not exclude consideration for referral unless specifically stipulated in the CPC out of scope section.

  • The following are not routinely provided in a public Maxillofacial Surgery service.

    • General dental (including wisdom teeth removal and dental implants) for patients without eligibility*

      • * Eligibility when referred from public oral health service, or if the patient has any of the following conditions:

      • ­    Acute unmanageable dental infections
      • ­    Non-healing of extraction sites
      • ­    Dental extraction in medically compromised patients (e.g. patient suffering from Haemophilia, cardiac disease, thoracic disease, multiple co-morbidities)
      • ­    Patients requiring extraction of teeth prior to head and neck radiotherapy or cardiac surgery
      • ­    Hypodontia, delayed eruption of teeth
    • Patients not meeting minimum referral criteria (e.g. no pain, no functional impact, no pathology)
    • Referrals for conditions better managed by general dental services or private providers
    • Requests for second opinions on cosmetic procedures already assessed privately
    • Elective procedures for aesthetic enhancement (e.g. chin reshaping, jaw contouring without functional impairment)
    • Dental Services
    • Periodontics
    • Traumatic Teeth injury without other injuries
    • Dental Anxiety
    • Dental Prosthesis
    • Aesthetics Surgery

Last updated: 28 September 2026

© State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2023

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced, communicated or adapted without permission from Queensland Health. To request permission email ip_officer@health.qld.gov.au1.