do you need an MD for OMFS subspecialties?

[Iwantmydds]

---

Members don't see this ad.

There are few subspecialties of OMFS such as craniofacial surgery, microvascular reconstruction, cosmetic facial surgery, cranio-maxillofacial trauma, etc. I am curious if you can pursue these subspecialties after completing 4 year programs as opposed to requiring dual degrees DMD/MD. Thank you in advance!

 

[SugarNaCl]

There are few subspecialties of OMFS such as craniofacial surgery, microvascular reconstruction, cosmetic facial surgery, cranio-maxillofacial trauma, etc. I am curious if you can pursue these subspecialties after completing 4 year programs as opposed to requiring dual degrees DMD/MD. Thank you in advance!

Don't quote me, but I don't believe so (not certain about the microvascular reconstruction). A 4 yr OMFS without his MD lectured to us about all the cosmetic surgery patients he takes. It is the basis of his practice. By the way, if you are OMFS, you already deal with craniofacial surgery and craino maxillofacial trauma... so I really don't think you need the MD.

 

[Regmata]

I have to agree with NaCl, although I am not sure...seems like everything you listed is under the normal scope of an OMFS. If you are looking for an oncology fellowship or something along those lines, then you likely would need the MD.

 

[shabu2]

I have to agree with NaCl, although I am not sure...seems like everything you listed is under the normal scope of an OMFS. If you are looking for an oncology fellowship or something along those lines, then you likely would need the MD.

you do not have to have an MD for fellowships, but it certainly opens more doors. As stated above, some require the MD, especially if it encroaches on our medical colleagues territory.

 

[Iwantmydds2]

thank you guys for ur opinion. So then what are the things that only 6-year MD OMFS could do while 4year OMFS could not do? Woudl you guys write some specific examples? thank you!

 

[Aceofspades]

I was under the impression the 6 year and 4 year oral surgeon could perform the exact same procedures. The only difference is that the 6 year has an MD behind his/her name and can branch into other medical specialties (such as dermatology) if they wanted to.

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

thank you guys for ur opinion. So then what are the things that only 6-year MD OMFS could do while 4year OMFS could not do? Woudl you guys write some specific examples? thank you!

In the UK you have to have both degrees to do the big cases (Maxillofacial surgery), if you only have a dental degree than you are limited to (Oral surgery).

In the US, they are one specialty (Oral and Maxillofacial surgery). In the US... legally there is nothing that a dual degree OMFS can do that a single degree OMFS can't do.

(In the US) you can get into most all fellowships as a single degree OMFS graduate. However, there are a (few) fellowships that "prefer" to take dual degree guys.

The current IAOMS (international association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons) guidelines state that the "gold standard" of OMFS training should include acquisition of both dental and medical degrees.

So.... basically, if you want to make sure all doors are open to you in the future such as opportunities to do fellowships and/or work overseas (UK for example) or to make sure you are eligible to apply to all subspecialty fellowships in the US, then I would suggest applying to dual degree programs.

Hope that helps.
👍

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

The only difference is that the 6 year has an MD behind his/her name and can branch into other medical specialties (such as dermatology) if they wanted to.

This is not the purpose of a Maxillofacial surgeon having a medical degree.

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

By the way, if you are OMFS, you already deal with craniofacial surgery and craino maxillofacial trauma... so I really don't think you need the MD.

exactly.

 

[Iwantmydds]

In the UK you have to have both degrees to do the big cases (Maxillofacial surgery), if you only have a dental degree than you are limited to (Oral surgery).

In the US, they are one specialty (Oral and Maxillofacial surgery). In the US... legally there is nothing that a dual degree OMFS can do that a single degree OMFS can't do.

(In the US) you can get into most all fellowships as a single degree OMFS graduate. However, there are a (few) fellowships that "prefer" to take dual degree guys.

The current IAOMS (international association of oral and maxillofacial surgeons) guidelines state that the "gold standard" of OMFS training should include acquisition of both dental and medical degrees.

So.... basically, if you want to make sure all doors are open to you in the future such as opportunities to do fellowships and/or work overseas (UK for example) or to make sure you are eligible to apply to all subspecialty fellowships in the US, then I would suggest applying to dual degree programs.

Hope that helps.
👍

Thank you. Do you happen to know those subspecialties that are only open to 6 year omfs? Would you be able to list them? It's kinda hard to find detailed info about this.

 

[servitup]

There are none. Best reason to get the MD is because it makes you a better doctor. Also helps when dealing with political tiffs w/ our MD colleagues. Also, patients like it (but they will go where their GPs send them so this is not that important).

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

Thank you. Do you happen to know those subspecialties that are only open to 6 year omfs? Would you be able to list them? It's kinda hard to find detailed info about this.

Sorry for the confusion.. When I said there may be some fellowships that prefer dual degree applicants... I didnt mean that single degree OMFS graduates couldnt get into some or all of them. Just that some of them prefer dual guys.

Example:

Head and Neck oncology fellowship at University of X prefers to accept only dual degree applicants.

Head and Neck oncology fellowship at University of Y accepts both single and dual degree applicants.

This goes for all subspecialties of OMFS: Craniofacial, H/N, Cosmetic, etc.

There is at least one fellowship for each OMFS subspecialty in the US that will accept a single degree OMFS graduate. So, don't worry.. There is nothing you legally won't be able to do as a single degree graduate in the US... however, if you want to be eligible for all of them includings ones overseas.. (ie. more open doors is a good thing) it is better to have both dental and medical degrees.

Does that make sense?

 

[Iwantmydds]

I was under the impression the 6 year and 4 year oral surgeon could perform the exact same procedures. The only difference is that the 6 year has an MD behind his/her name and can branch into other medical specialties (such as dermatology) if they wanted to.

Are you sure about htat?? isn't dermatology completely out of the scope of OMFS or dentistry? I guess in that case you would have to do dermatology residency which is starting from the scratch again after doing OmFS?

 

[Iwantmydds]

Sorry for the confusion.. When I said there may be some fellowships that prefer dual degree applicants... I didnt mean that single degree OMFS graduates couldnt get into some or all of them. Just that some of them prefer dual guys.

Example:

Head and Neck oncology fellowship at University of X prefers to accept only dual degree applicants.

Head and Neck oncology fellowship at University of Y accepts both single and dual degree applicants.

This goes for all subspecialties of OMFS: Craniofacial, H/N, Cosmetic, etc.

There is at least one fellowship for each OMFS subspecialty in the US that will accept a single degree OMFS graduate. So, don't worry.. There is nothing you legally won't be able to do as a single degree graduate in the US... however, if you want to be eligible for all of them includings ones overseas.. (ie. more open doors is a good thing) it is better to have both dental and medical degrees.

Does that make sense?

AHA! I got it. That was a very clear response. Thank you. your post totally clarified my question.

 

[armorshell]

Are you sure about htat?? isn't dermatology completely out of the scope of OMFS or dentistry? I guess in that case you would have to do dermatology residency which is starting from the scratch again after doing OmFS?

Technically if you have an MD you could get into a dermatology residency, but it would be the most bass ackwards long route to getting it I can think of.

 

[Dr.Millisevert]

Are you sure about htat?? isn't dermatology completely out of the scope of OMFS or dentistry? I guess in that case you would have to do dermatology residency which is starting from the scratch again after doing OmFS?

You're allowed to treat common facial skin problems if that's what you're referring to as derm.

Yes, if you had an MD you could leave OMFS and specialise as a Dermatologist. But why would you want to do that? If that is what you want.. then go to med school from the begining and don't waste training spots in OMFS. Some people actually want to train in OMFS. 🙂

 

[Iwantmydds]

You're allowed to treat common facial skin problems if that's what you're referring to as derm.

Yes, if you had an MD you could leave OMFS and specialise as a Dermatologist. But why would you want to do that? If that is what you want.. then go to med school from the begining and don't waste training spots in OMFS. Some people actually want to train in OMFS. 🙂

Oh no. I want to do OMFS. The reason why I asked this question is somebody above mentioned training in dermatology after doing MD/OMFS residency.