Introduction The number of oral surgery referrals from primary to secondary care has increased, resulting in longer waiting times. A study suggests two-thirds of patients referred to secondary care for oral surgery could be treated by dentists with enhanced skills.

Aims To help inform the development of an integrated oral surgery service in South West England by assessing the proportion of inappropriate referrals to Bristol Dental Hospital.

Methods A total of 100 non-consecutive written referrals to oral surgery were analysed. Multiple variables were collected, including the complexity of the treatment requested (Level 1, 2 or 3) and patient and referrer locations.

Results In total, 94 referrals were included in the analysis: 17% were Level 1 complexity, 35% Level 2, and 48% Level 3. Additionally, 17% of referrals were inappropriate. Almost half (52%) (Levels 1 and 2) could have been treated in primary care. Many referrals had missing clinical details or unacceptable-quality radiographs.

Conclusion An effective integrated oral surgery managed clinical network in South West England could reduce waiting times in secondary care and potentially improve patient experience. An electronic referral management system could also improve the quality of referral information.