Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
A Career In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Introduction
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (usually shortened to 'maxillofacial surgery' - or even just 'maxfacs'!) is one of the nine recognised surgical specialties in the U.K.
What do maxillofacial surgeons do?
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face and neck. The scope of the specialty is extensive and includes the diagnosis and management of cranio-facial trauma, head and neck cancers, salivary gland diseases, congenital and developmental facial and jaw deformities, temporomandibular joint disorders, cysts and tumours of the maxillofacial region, surgery for dental anomalies such as impacted and buried teeth, as well as a host of medical conditions affecting the oral mucosa. A significant part of the work undertaken by the specialty involves reconstructive surgery of the face and jaw area following injury, cancer or growth problems.
What does training involve?
Now for the tough bit! Maxillofacial surgery is unique amongst the surgical specialties in requiring a dual qualification in both medicine and dentistry. The Specialist Advisory Committee, a sub-committee of the intercollegiate Joint Committee for Higher Surgical Training, currently supervises training which involves an indicative five year competence based curriculum following Foundation Year 2.
What are the entry requirements?
Basically trainees are a self selected group because few will have obtained the mandatory dual qualification. Most will have started with a dental degree and will have made a career choice whilst working as a dental graduate in a hospital department. They will normally have gone back to medical school to undertake a shortened medical degree course of 3-4 years and applied to return to the specialty after F2. However, there are also a few medical graduates who undertake a shortened dental degree. They have usually been exposed to the specialty in the early years of surgical training and see it as an exciting way of being involved in a wide variety of head and neck surgery.
So what are the good and bad points about maxillofacial surgery?
Dual qualification gives an unrivalled understanding of the anatomy and pathology of the head and neck area which is second to none. A referral base from both medical and dental practitioners ensures a wide variety of clinical problems, and a strong involvement in all aspects of facial trauma keeps maxillofacial surgery at the front line with the other acute surgical specialties. The challenge of microsurgery and reconstructive surgery, and the increasing involvement in aesthetic facial surgery, mean that your results are there for all to see! The downside? Basically the commitment and time required to obtain a second degree. However, once obtained the job prospects are excellent with entry to a good quality training programme virtually assured.
How do I find out more about the specialty?
Start with the Royal College website. Better still, quiz your local consultants or maxillofacial registrars and ask to attend a clinic or operating session.
For further information and details take a look at the following website:
> The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Andrew Brown
Chairman of Council and Vice-President
British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Last updated 25/12/06
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