Specialty and Subspecialties of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat the entire craniomaxillofacial complex and specialize in the anatomical area of the mouth, jaws, face, and skull.
- Subspecialties include cosmetic facial surgery, cranio-maxillofacial trauma, craniofacial surgery/pediatric maxillofacial surgery, head and neck cancer and microvascular reconstruction, and maxillofacial regeneration.
Recognition and Regulation of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Different Regions
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery is recognized as a specialty of medicine in the UK and most of Europe, requiring a degree in medicine and dentistry.
- In Canada, Asia, and Scandinavia, it is recognized as a dental specialty, requiring a degree in dentistry before undergoing surgical residency training.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery is an internationally recognized surgical specialty, formally designated as a medical, dental, or dual specialty.
Introduction and Development of Anesthesia Techniques in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Anesthesia was introduced in oral and maxillofacial surgery by Dr. Horace Wells in 1844 and Dr. William Thomas Green Morton in 1846.
- Dr. Ferdinand Hasbrouck succeeded in the regular and commercial use of anesthesia in private surgical practice, and Dr. Niels Jorgensen developed intravenous moderate sedation.
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery maintains a close educational and professional relationship with anesthesiology.
Role of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Plastic Surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery played a crucial role in the recognition of plastic surgery as a surgical specialty in the United States.
- Dr. Varaztad Kazanjian and Dr. Robert H. Ivy made significant contributions to plastic surgery through their work in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Education, Training, and Occupation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery is recognized as a dental specialty in the US, Australia, and South Africa, with residency training programs lasting four to six years.
- It is one of the most highly compensated surgical specialties in the United States and offers career opportunities for individuals with a medical degree as their first degree.
- Education and training typically take 12 to 14 years, with additional specialization through fellowships. Board certification is achieved through residency training.
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (August 2015) |
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty focusing on reconstructive surgery of the face, facial trauma surgery, the oral cavity, head and neck, mouth, and jaws, as well as facial cosmetic surgery/facial plastic surgery including cleft lip and cleft palate surgery.
System | head, neck, face, jaws, hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region |
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Specialist | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon |
Glossary | Glossary of medicine |