Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck. It is unique in requiring a dual qualification in medicine and dentistry.

The scope of the specialty is large and includes the surgical and non-surgical management of conditions of the hard and soft tissues of the face, jaws and neck.

This can be further broken down into the management of facial and cranio-maxillofacial injuries, head, neck and facial skin cancers that require removal and often complex reconstruction. The correction of congenital and acquired facial deformity, the treatment of salivary gland diseases, and cosmetic procedures are also carried out. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, impacted teeth, cysts and tumours of the jaws are all treated, as well as intra-oral and extra-oral implantology with associated hard and soft tissue augmentation as part of pre-prosthetic surgery.

The specialty also deals with non-surgical problems affecting the oro-facial region such as the management of facial pain, oral mucosal disease and infections.  Consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons usually work in teams, developing areas of sub-specialisation in their practice that include head and neck cancer and reconstruction, cranio-facial deformity, cleft lip and palate and aesthetic facial surgery.
Common procedures range from relatively minor dentoalveolar surgery through to complex major head and neck surgery. They cover:

• oncology and reconstruction
• facial deformity
• trauma
• salivary gland surgery
• aesthetics
• oral, dentoalveolar and TMJ surgery

Specialists working in this area are known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons. (In some areas oral and maxillofacial surgeons may be referred to as oral and facial surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons or craniomaxillofacial surgeons).

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons generally work in teams and frequently work alongside other specialists including ENT surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthodontists, restorative dentists, clinical oncologists and plastic surgeons.

Information on the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery curriculum can be found on the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme website.

Specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery will be competency based however it is expected that it will take approximately five years post core training (ST3-ST7) to acquire these competencies.   The new curriculum provides trainees with two indicative years in core surgical specialties (CT1 and CT2) with an introduction to the specialty at ST3.

Educational opportunities are excellent with a Pan London and KSS academic programme.  The programme has close links with the University of London; higher degrees are possible and research facilities excellent.  Trainees are encouraged to undertake research during the programme.  All units are actively involved in audit in which the trainees are expected to participate.  Senior trainees will be expected to be involved in the teaching of junior members of staff as appropriate.

Links

• Royal College of Surgeons of England
• British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• OMFS courses at The Royal College of Surgeons

Local Education Providers

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
Barts and The London Trust
Brighton And Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Surrey County Hospital Trust
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust