The oral-facial geneticist: his training and role in dentistry

There is a great need today for clinical geneticists who can diagnose hereditary malformation complexes and counsel afflicted patients and their families. The vast majority of these heritable syndromes have significant expression in the oral-craniofacial complex. This paper describes the minimal qualifications and training needed by postgraduate dentists to function as oral-facial geneticists. The oral-facial geneticist is defined as a human geneticist who has special interest and training in diseases of the oral-facial complex. In addition to patient care and consultation, persons with such training may make important contributions to teaching and research in cranio-facial growth and development.