Oral surgeons in California will be able to perform plastic surgery

[accidental]

I don't know if this has been discussed yet, but its some interesting news.....
Oral surgeons may be able to perform plastic sugery

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[ItsGavinC]

I don't have much of a problem with it. Like I've said before, when you get your face smashed in and head to the ER for reconstructive surgery, at most places you'll get a oral surgeon, a plastics guy, or an ENT, depending on who is on call that night.

So the great debate comes down to why oral surgeons can remodel faces for trauma but not for cosmetics--especially when the trauma cases are on a general basis much more technical and difficult to perform.

 

[MacGyver]

The dentists asking for cosmetic surgery privileges is like a trauma surgeon doing brain surgery.

At some places, trauma surgeons rotate thru the neurosurg service for a few weeks. According to the dentists logic, they should be allowed to do brain surgery based on that.

 

[accidental]

The dentists asking for cosmetic surgery privileges is like a trauma surgeon doing brain surgery.

At some places, trauma surgeons rotate thru the neurosurg service for a few weeks. According to the dentists logic, they should be allowed to do brain surgery based on that.

That is a very flawed argument. Your analogy might make some sense if an oral surgeon spent only a few weeks doing reconstructive surgery rotations but they spend the majority of their training in that type of setting under much more stressfull conditions. Many DDS's become MD's after oral surgeon training anyway, so that must tell you something about the type of training they get.

 

[ItsGavinC]

The dentists asking for cosmetic surgery privileges is like a trauma surgeon doing brain surgery.

At some places, trauma surgeons rotate thru the neurosurg service for a few weeks. According to the dentists logic, they should be allowed to do brain surgery based on that.

Not at all the same. We aren't talking about rotating through anything. We're talking about the actual services that are rendered by respective specialists. Trauma, ENT, and oral surgeons typically share face call, which is reconstructive surgery.

Trauma surgeons, although rotating through neuro, will NEVER take that call. It isn't in their job description nor are they licensed to do so. Oral surgeons ARE licensed and provided by hospitals to perform reconstructive surgeries, so the line becomes what is needed (reconstruction) versus what is wanted (cosmetic), although the procedures are often similar.

 

[Col Sanders]

The dentists asking for cosmetic surgery privileges is like a trauma surgeon doing brain surgery.

At some places, trauma surgeons rotate thru the neurosurg service for a few weeks. According to the dentists logic, they should be allowed to do brain surgery based on that.

I can understand your concern. But come on, lets be honest this is only about money, politics, and pride not training or skill. Anyone at a high level(specialty training and residency) who can perform the procedures and is capable of avoid tort and litigation by doing so should be allowed to do so. Lawsuits are the great equilizers. Lets put it in sports terms. Its like a shortstop playing second base (they have essentially the same tools and skills just taught and learned in slightly different areas). The difference with a trauma surgeon doing nuerosurgery is like a baseball pitcher playing D-tackle in football and is a horrible analogy. The types of tissues are completely different. Furthermore your lack of respect for oral surgeons shows that you have never spent any time with one and have limited knowledge of their training and capabilities.

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

In many other states oral surgeons already have these privileges and have for a very long time; it is part of the training in just about every OMS program out there. California is just now catching up with the rest of the country.

 

[scriptman]

Regardless of what the laws say, I don't know if this will result in oral surgeons doing a lot more facial cosmetic work. Most patients wanting that sort of cosmetic work are going to go to a plastic surgeon or an ent with a facial plastics fellowship. Going to an oral surgeon probably wouldn't even enter their mind.

In private practice here the plastic surgeons/ents and oral surgeons don't have practices that overlap much at all. Plastic surgery and ENT's with cosmetic training do obviously overlap though.

 

[honestpredent]

I don't have a problem with an oral surgeon performing platic surgery as long as he or she gets a fellowship in plastic surgery. It's that simple. General surgeons are not allowed to perform plastic surgery despite having completed 5 years of residency in general surgery after graduating from medical school. These 5 years include some training in plastics and reconstructive surgery, however, they aren't licensed to perform plastic surgery. That's more surgical training than OMS guys receive. Remember that even the 6 year M.D. OMS residents spend two of those years in medical school. General Surgery residents focus all 5 of those years just performing surgery and not medical school or anything else. Most plastic surgeons were general surgeons first who then completed 3 years of a plastics felllowship which amounted to 8 years of training. Although the plastic surgeons are worried more about losing money as opposed to being concerned about the welfare of patients, their argument is still valid. No one can legitimately argue that oral surgeons have the same level expertise and experience in plastics as plastic surgeon. Reconstructive surgery is not the same as plastic surgery which many on here mistakenly equate.

And to be honest, how many in here would honestly get their rhinoplasty done from an oral surgeon? Would you want an expert who performs plastic surgery for a living that had more years of training or someone who has the ability to perform some plastic surgery but focuses on pulling teeth and orthonathic surgery etc.? It's a no-brainer.

This has nothing to do with criticizing dentists and everything to do with requiring the proper training. LIke I said, I have no problem with oral surgeons performing plastic surgery if they complete a fellowship in plastic surgery like everyone else. Or another route would be to extend the OMS resideny by 2 years and incorporate plastics into it. Otherwise, I think it's extremely dangerous. Oral surgeons may be skilled but plastics is a different endeavour altogether regardless if it is easier that what oral surgeons are used to performing. Plastics is still a separate field that requires training.

 

[UNLV OMS GUNNABE]

Come on you guys, this same topic was over hashed just a few weeks ago. It went on for like 3 pages. Macgyver just gets some kind of strange pleasure by coming into our forums and stirring the pot. Don't give him the satisfaction of responding.

 

[ItsGavinC]

And to be honest, how many in here would honestly get their rhinoplasty done from an oral surgeon? Would you want an expert who performs plastic surgery for a living that had more years of training or someone who has the ability to perform some plastic surgery but focuses on pulling teeth and orthonathic surgery etc.? It's a no-brainer.

I would get it done from an oral surgeon. Rhinoplasty, as your example, isn't a very technical procedure compared to what is done during trauma calls. And rhinoplasties are quite common during trauma calls.

 

[Col Sanders]

Come on you guys, this same topic was over hashed just a few weeks ago. It went on for like 3 pages. Macgyver just gets some kind of strange pleasure by coming into our forums and stirring the pot. Don't give him the satisfaction of responding.

Come on Wanabe. You know how antagonistic I can be, I cant help but respond.

 

[UNLV OMS GUNNABE]

Just had to throw something in about sports as well I see Just can't resist.

 

[Col Sanders]

check your inbox wanabe

 

[honestpredent]

I would get it done from an oral surgeon. Rhinoplasty, as your example, isn't a very technical procedure compared to what is done during trauma calls. And rhinoplasties are quite common during trauma calls.

Trauma is different than plastics. Trauma may be more complicated but it isn't the same thing. Their emphasis is slightly different. Check out the plastics forum and ask any plastic surgeon or resident and they will reiterate what I said. And plastic surgeons would know considering they take trama call during their general surgery residency in addition to surgical rotations as a medical student.

You are genuinely telling me that if you had to get a rhinoplasty done, you would seek out the service of an oral surgeon over a plastic surgeon who has done far more procedures and has more training? I mean if I was in an accident and I didn't have a choice as to who would operate on my face, I would be content with an oral surgeon. But if I'm going to drop 2-3 grand on cosmetic work, you can be assured I won't be seeking the services of an oral surgeon over a plastic surgeon. I don't think many would whether they admit that or not.

Again, I'm not putting down oral surgeons, but training is training. Oral surgeons may be as talented as any plastic sugeon which I believe. But without the proper plastics training, they shouldn't be allowed to perform those procedures. I want the person who is the most prepared to perform a particular procedure whether they are a dentist or a plastic surgeon. If an oral surgeon has completed a fellowship in plastics and has a great reputation, I have no problem getting plastic surgery performed by him or her.