Training in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a medicine-first perspective

Specialist registration in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) requires dual medical and dental qualification involving at least eight years of undergraduate study. Training has continued to evolve since dual qualification was introduced and has often resulted in unwarranted repetition. If a time-based curriculum is necessary, second degree trainees should be allowed to pursue research and audit, and gain relevant clinical experience in lieu of repeating previously covered material. Junior surgical training could be integrated into the second degree. A programme that records competencies during the second degree may demonstrate equivalent to other aspects of junior training. One barrier is timetabling, which often restricts the integration of second degree trainees with OMFS units. Junior training in OMFS could be streamlined if the content was agreed nationally. This would also offer the opportunity for those key institutions that implement these changes to take on a prominent role in OMFS training.