Career in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: From the name Oral Surgery itself, it is understood that it deals with surgical procedures. Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical speciality focusing on esthetic 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. Maxillofacial Surgeons, also known as Oral surgeons, are hospital-trained dentists who have specialised in Oral Surgery.
There are some points in your life when your dentist refers you to an Oral Surgeon when you have to extract your tooth, do bone grafting, do jaw advancement surgeries, get dental implants or any other surgical procedures. This article lets the readers know about Oral and Maxillofacial surgery and helps them decide whether or not to choose it as a career.
To understand the distinctions between an Oral Surgeon and a Dentist, as well as delve into the responsibilities inherent in being an Oral Surgeon, keep reading the following article.
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Quick Facts
The following is a small summary of the oral & maxillofacial surgery course.
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Course Name | BDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery MDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery PhD in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Certificate Courses in Oral Surgery Post Graduate Diploma in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
| Course Duration | UG: 5 Years PG: 3 Years PhD: 3 Years |
| Eligibility | UG: 10+2 PG: BDS degree |
| Admission Process | NEET |
| Career Options | Head of Surgery, Surgeon Partner, Dental Surgeon, Senior Associate, Doctor and Resident Physician |
What is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery?
Most of the time, people need clarification about dentistry and Oral Surgery. Dentistry is a medical discipline that deals with issues related to the oral cavity. A person who practices dentistry is known as a Dentist, and Dentists can perform minor surgeries such as extraction and incision of small abscesses. Maxillofacial surgery is a particular type of dentistry. It involves operations to correct diseases, injuries, and defects in your face, jaw, or mouth.
Nevertheless, an Oral Surgeon is a dentist who specialises in the field of Oral Surgery and can perform complex surgeries. Oral Surgery studies include trans-alveolar extraction, jaw fractures, midface fractures, TMJ alkalosis and dislocation, jaw cysts, dental implants, and tumors.
Who is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons aid in the treatment of face to throat-related treatment. They perform various surgeries like tooth extraction, dental bone grafts, dental implants, periodontal surgery, corrective jaw surgery, sleep apnea surgery, and cleft lip and palate repair.
How to Become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Most oral and maxillofacial surgeons start their education with a bachelor’s degree, though technically, they only need to complete the prerequisites required by dental school. These vary but usually include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, and English courses.
Depending on the program, dental school takes three to five years to complete. Students must get into a highly competitive oral and maxillofacial residency program. A prospective oral and maxillofacial surgeon will also have to earn a good score on the Dental Admission Test. These surgeons should also plan on obtaining certification through the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which is the standard in this field. Continuing education is crucial because the purview of the profession is evolving. For instance, in years past, treating sleep apnea was not in the scope of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon; now, Rafetto says it is.
Various Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Courses in India
To work as an Oral Surgeon or make a career in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, one may earn a degree by following Oral Surgery Courses.
| Course Name | Duration |
|---|---|
| BDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 5 years |
| MDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 3 Years |
| PhD in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 3 Years |
| Certificate Courses in Oral Surgery | 3 Months |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | 2 Years |
How do I get admission to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Course?
The process of admission to the course may vary across institutes. Some institutes conduct entrance exams for admission, while some select students on merit.
Most colleges/universities in India base their selection criterion on the candidate’s performance in a relevant national-level entrance exam.
- Aspiring candidates should have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the science stream (PCB) to be eligible for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery course.
- Candidates should have a NEET scorecard for undergraduate courses.
- Candidates should have NEET MDS for postgraduate courses.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria for UG Level
The following is the eligibility criteria for undergraduate courses:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Age limit | The minimum age limit is 17 years. |
| Qualification | 10+2 in science majors physics, chemistry and biology with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. |
| Qualifying Entrance Exam | NEET |
Eligibility Criteria for PG Level
The following is the eligibility criteria for the postgraduate course:
| Particulars | Description |
|---|---|
| Qualification | BDS in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery |
| Qualifying marks | minimum of 50% aggregate marks |
| Qualifying Entrance Exam | NEET MDS |
Top 10 Colleges for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Various colleges offer oral and maxillofacial surgery courses. Here’s a list of the top 10 colleges for the course:
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Colleges in India
Some of the colleges in India offering Careers in Oral Surgery are as follows:
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Amrita School of Dentistry | Kochi |
| AJ Institute of Dental Sciences | Karnataka |
| Shubharati Dental College | Meerut |
| Sri Sankara Dental College | Trivandrum |
| King Georges Medical University | Lucknow |
| SGT Dental College Hospital & Research Institute | Gurgaon |
| Manav Rachna Dental College | Faridabad |
| Santosh Dental College & Hospital | Ghaziabad |
| Subharati Dental College | Meerut |
| Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies | Modi Nagar |
| Divya Jyoti College of Dental Sciences & Research | Modi Nagar |
| ITS Centre For Dental Studies & Research | Ghaziabad |
| Sharda School of Dental Science | Greater Noida |
Career Opportunities for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
The role of a dentist has evolved beyond oral health maintenance alone. From treating patients with head and neck cancer to correcting birth defects like cleft lip, and assisting individuals who have sustained serious facial injuries, the indispensable expertise of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon is always in demand.
Originally focused on dental surgeries, this branch of dentistry now encompasses the surgical treatment of a wide range of conditions extending beyond the oral cavity. These include trauma to the face and jaws, oral and facial cancer, sinus and throat infections, and acquired and congenital facial deformities. Over time, its scope has expanded to encompass issues from the head to the throat. Leveraging advanced technologies such as laser therapy and titanium implants, this field continues to offer significant potential for growth and innovation in the future.
Many governments and private hospitals and clinics offer jobs for Oral surgeons. One can start their clinics or work as a Surgeon partner with another skilled Oral Surgeon. An Oral Surgeon can work as a:
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) | Head of Surgery |
| Surgeon Partner | Dental Surgeon |
| Doctor and Resident Physician | Senior Associate |
| Dental Service Chief | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon |
Types of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
The following are the types of oral and maxillofacial surgeons:
| Dental Implants | Anaesthesia |
| Dentoalveolar Surgery | Surgical Correction of Maxillofacial Skeletal Deformities |
| Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery | Temporomandibular Joint |
| Maxillofacial Trauma | Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery |
| Orthognathic Surgery | Pathologic Conditions |
Skills Required for an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Aspiring candidates must acquire these skills to get a Maxillofacial Surgeon job and progress in their careers.
| Time Management | Leadership Skills |
| Communication Skills | Problem-solving |
| Diagnostic Skills | Physical Fitness |
| Organising Skills | Teamwork |
| Hand-eye Coordination | Decision-making skills |
Role of an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon helps diagnose and treat people with conditions that affect their mouth, jaw, face, or neck, ranging from issues with teeth to full-face transplants.
- Consulting visiting patients
- Making accurate diagnoses
- Prescribing treatment to the patients
- Coordinating malignancy-related investigation
- Performing surgeries
- Pursuing academic and research activities
- Supervisory and administrative duties
- Removal of teeth-related issues.
- Perform Orthognathic surgery related to Human jaw surgery.
- Facial reconstruction after an accident.
- Removal of tumours and cysts.
- Perform for suspicious tissue to remove the chances of oral cancers
which field is in more demand
prosthodontics
endodontics
oral and maxillofacial surgery
oral and maxillofacial surgery