History and Founding of AAOMS: - Founded in 1918 by 29 dentists specializing in tooth extraction - Initially named American Society of Exodontists in 1919 - Formally recognised by the American Dental Association - Changed name to American Society of Oral Surgeons and Exodontists in 1921 - Many oral surgeons in the early 20th century had medical degrees and volunteered during World War I

Key Figures and Contributions: - Varaztad Kazanjian, Robert H. Ivy, Carl W. Waldron, Simon Hullihen, and James Garretson made significant contributions to oral surgery - These dentists progressed the specialty in various ways - Their work included facial trauma treatment during World War I - Their efforts helped shape the field of oral surgery - Their contributions paved the way for future advancements

Name Changes and Evolution: - The Board of the American Society of Oral Surgeons was created in 1946 - In 1978, the board's name changed to American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) - In the same year, the organization changed its name to American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) - These name changes reflected the evolving nature of the specialty - The new names better represented the scope and focus of the organization

Journals and Publications: - AAOMS played a key role in creating the first American edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1943 - The journal was initially called Journal of Oral Surgery - AAOMS acquired the journal from ADA in 1981 for more control - Another journal called Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology has been publishing articles related to oral surgery since 1948 - These journals serve as important platforms for sharing research and advancements in the field

Present Status and Membership: - AAOMS has over 9,000 fellows, members, and residents in the United States - More than 90 percent of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the US belong to AAOMS - The organization has 250 affiliate members from nations worldwide - AAOMS has state component societies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico - It also has eight regional component societies, further expanding its reach and influence