Oral Surgery
Encyclopedia
Oral Surgery is a recognized international specialty in dentistry
. It includes the diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws and neck.
It involves, but is not limited to: dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, apicoectomy
, TMJ disorder
, facial trauma, corrective jaw surgery, oral pathology, osseous tissue
surgery, anesthesia and bone grafts.
Unlike in the United States, in some areas of the world it is separate from Oral and Maxillofacial surgery (OMS, OMFS, or "Maxfacs")
, which is a unique specialty usually requiring both medical and dental qualifications of 8-10 years of education after college.
Oral surgery as a specialty is defined in Europe as a dental specialty. It requires 3 years of further university training after a formal qualification in dentistry
.
The Directive 2001/19/EC
also distinguishes Oral Surgery from other evidence of formal qualifications in specialized Medicine, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery
, which requires both medical and dental training in the European Union
.
However, it is important to note that, in the United States, there is no such equivalent dental specialist to the European "oral surgeon". Based on the scope of practice in the United States, "oral surgeons" are those who, internationally, would be more appropriately described as "oral and maxillofacial surgeons"
.
In 2007, the United Kingdom
's General Dental Council
transferred dentists on the specialist list in Surgical Dentistry to a reconfigured Oral Surgery list.
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
. It includes the diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws and neck.
It involves, but is not limited to: dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, apicoectomy
Apicoectomy
A root end surgery, also known as apicoectomy , is an endodontic surgical procedure whereby a tooth's root tip is removed and a root end cavity is prepared and filled with a biocompatible material....
, TMJ disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder , or TMJ syndrome, is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment...
, facial trauma, corrective jaw surgery, oral pathology, osseous tissue
Osseous tissue
Osseous tissue, or bone tissue, is the major structural and supportive connective tissue of the body. Osseous tissue forms the rigid part of the bone organs that make up the skeletal system.-Formation:Bone tissue is a mineralized connective tissue...
surgery, anesthesia and bone grafts.
Unlike in the United States, in some areas of the world it is separate from Oral and Maxillofacial surgery (OMS, OMFS, or "Maxfacs")
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty...
, which is a unique specialty usually requiring both medical and dental qualifications of 8-10 years of education after college.
Oral surgery as a specialty is defined in Europe as a dental specialty. It requires 3 years of further university training after a formal qualification in dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
.
The Directive 2001/19/EC
Directive 2001/19/EC
The Directive 2001/19/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2001 controls the general system for the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses responsible for general care, dental practitioners, veterinary surgeons, midwives, architects, pharmacists and doctors in...
also distinguishes Oral Surgery from other evidence of formal qualifications in specialized Medicine, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty...
, which requires both medical and dental training in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
However, it is important to note that, in the United States, there is no such equivalent dental specialist to the European "oral surgeon". Based on the scope of practice in the United States, "oral surgeons" are those who, internationally, would be more appropriately described as "oral and maxillofacial surgeons"
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty...
.
In 2007, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's General Dental Council
General Dental Council
The General Dental Council is a United Kingdom organisation which regulates all dental professionals in the country. Established in 1956 by an amendment to the Dentists Act 1948, now updated in the Dentists Act 1984, it keeps an up-to-date register of all qualified dentists and other dental care...
transferred dentists on the specialist list in Surgical Dentistry to a reconfigured Oral Surgery list.