Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial is involved in all aspects of the diagnosis and surgical care of the mouth, jaws, skull, face, head and neck as well as associated structures and their reconstruction. The aim of the specialty is to provide a comprehensive diagnostic and surgical service, often in a multidisciplinary manner to our medical and dental colleagues for a defined anatomical area – the Head and Neck.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery in Ireland and the UK is a medical / surgical specialty requiring both medical and dental degrees, culminating in an appropriate qualification, Intercollegiate Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, FRCS (OMFS) and a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) from the RCSI.

All Oral Maxillofacial surgeons must also have a registrable dental qualification with the Irish Dental Council at the time of commencing higher specialty training.

Specialty trainees may choose to undergo further training in a 2 year Surgical Fellowship Training in the following areas:

• Head & neck oncology – with extended reconstruction including microvascula Cosmetic facial surgery
• Craniofacial & skull base surgery/paediatric maxillofacial surgery
• Cleft Surgery

Spectrum of the specialty:

• Cranial, facial & maxillofacial trauma (soft & hard tissues)
• Cancer of the head & neck region & its reconstruction
• Disease of the salivary glands
• Surgical correction of facial disproportion – both congenital & acquired
• Cleft lip & palate surgery
• Facial pain
• Disorders of the temporomandibular joint
• Surgical removal of impacted & buried teeth, cysts & benign tumours of the jaws
• Placement of osseointegrated dental & extra-oral implants
• Management of infections of the head & neck, including life-threatening facial space infection
• Conditions of the oral mucosa such as mouth ulcers, white patches & dentoalveolar infection