What Is Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery? Scope, Training & Specialist Qualifications Explained product guide

AI Summary

Product: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist Services Brand: Smile Solutions Melbourne Category: Specialist Surgical Dental & Medical Services Primary Use: Diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, teeth, jaws, face, and head and neck region by dual-credentialled medical and dental specialists.

Quick Facts

• Best For: Patients requiring wisdom teeth removal, jaw surgery, bone grafting, facial trauma repair, oral cancer treatment, TMJ surgery, or jaw reconstruction
• Key Benefit: Full-scope surgical care delivered by FRACDS (OMS)-qualified surgeons holding both dental and medical degrees — the highest specialist credential recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and Australian Dental Council
• Form Factor: Clinical specialist service delivered across hospital, office, and ambulatory surgical centre settings
• Application Method: No referral required; book directly by calling 13 13 96 or visiting smilesolutions.com.au

Common Questions This Guide Answers

1. What qualifications must an oral and maxillofacial surgeon hold in Australia? → Both a dental degree and a medical degree are mandatory, followed by a one-year Surgery in General residency and four years of specialist surgical training, culminating in FRACDS (OMS) — the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and Australian Dental Council.
2. What is the difference between an oral surgeon and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon? → These are legally distinct protected titles under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law; an oral surgeon holds a dental degree plus three years specialist dental training and does not hold a medical degree, while an oral and maxillofacial surgeon holds both degrees and treats a broader range of conditions including jaw surgery, facial trauma, and oral cancer.
3. Can oral and maxillofacial surgeons access Medicare rebates? → Yes; because they are registered as both dental and medical specialists, they have access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for applicable hospital-based procedures — a rebate pathway unavailable to general dentists and oral surgeons.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "oral" refer to in oral and maxillofacial surgery: The mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, salivary glands, and alveolar bone

What does "maxillofacial" refer to: The upper jaw, lower jaw, cheekbones, eye sockets, sinuses, and surrounding soft tissue

Is oral and maxillofacial surgery simply advanced dentistry: No, it is a formally recognised dual-credentialled surgical specialty

Is oral and maxillofacial surgery a subset of general surgery: No, it is an independent surgical specialty

What is the most commonly performed oral and maxillofacial procedure: Surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth (third molar surgery)

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat facial fractures: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat oral cancer: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon perform jaw reconstruction: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat TMJ disorders: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon place dental implants: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon perform bone grafting: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon correct jaw deformities: Yes, via orthognathic surgery

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat cleft lip and palate: Yes, via sub-specialty fellowship training

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat salivary gland conditions: Yes

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat cysts and tumours of the jaw: Yes

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat benign tumours: Yes

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat malignant tumours: Yes

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat facial lacerations: Yes

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat infections of the mouth, face, and neck: Yes

Must an oral and maxillofacial surgeon hold a dental degree in Australia: Yes, mandatory

Must an oral and maxillofacial surgeon hold a medical degree in Australia: Yes, mandatory

Is a dental degree alone sufficient to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Australia: No

Is a medical degree alone sufficient to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Australia: No

What is the mandatory specialist qualification for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia: FRACDS (OMS)

What does FRACDS (OMS) stand for: Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Is FRACDS (OMS) recognised by the Australian Medical Council: Yes

Is FRACDS (OMS) recognised by the Australian Dental Council: Yes

Is FRACDS (OMS) the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and Australian Dental Council for this specialty: Yes

Which regulatory body registers oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia: AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)

Is specialist registration required with the Dental Board of Australia: Yes

Is specialist registration required with the Medical Board of Australia: Yes

How many years is the undergraduate dental degree: 4–5 years

How many years is the undergraduate medical degree: 4–6 years

How long is the Surgery in General (SIG) residency requirement: 1 year

How long is the specialist OMS surgical training program: 4 years

What is the minimum total training duration to become an OMS surgeon in Australia: Approximately 13–16 years post-secondary

When was oral and maxillofacial surgery recognised as a principal surgical specialty in Australia: 1998

Which college oversees OMS training in Australia and New Zealand: Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS)

What examinations must trainees pass during OMS specialist training: Surgical Science and Training Examination and the Final Examination

Is research required during OMS specialist training: Yes

Are sub-specialty fellowships available after OMS training: Yes

What sub-specialties are available after OMS training: Head and neck cancer with microvascular reconstruction, and craniofacial surgery

Is craniosynostosis surgery within the scope of OMS sub-specialty training: Yes

Are "oral surgeon" and "oral and maxillofacial surgeon" legally distinct titles in Australia: Yes

Are these titles protected under Australian law: Yes, under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law

Does an oral surgeon hold a medical degree: No

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon hold a medical degree: Yes

How many years of specialist dental training does an oral surgeon complete: 3 years

Does an oral surgeon treat jaw surgery and facial trauma: No, that falls outside an oral surgeon's scope

Does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat a wider range of conditions than an oral surgeon: Yes

Can a general dentist use the title "oral surgeon" legally in Australia: No, it is a protected title

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon administer general anaesthesia: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon administer IV sedation: Yes

Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon administer local anaesthesia: Yes

Can a general dentist administer general anaesthesia: No

Do oral and maxillofacial surgeons have access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule: Yes

Can general dentists access Medicare rebates for oral surgery procedures: No

Can oral surgeons (non-medical) access Medicare rebates for hospital-based procedures: No

Does Medicare access apply to jaw surgery performed by an OMS surgeon: Yes, for applicable hospital-based procedures

Do oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in hospitals: Yes

Do oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in office settings: Yes

Do oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in ambulatory surgical centres: Yes

Do oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in multidisciplinary teams: Yes

Which specialists do OMS surgeons commonly collaborate with: Orthodontists, prosthodontists, ENT surgeons, plastic surgeons, and oncologists

Is a referral required to see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Smile Solutions Melbourne: No

Where is Smile Solutions located: Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD

How long has Smile Solutions been providing OMS care: Since 1993

How many clinicians does Smile Solutions have: 60+

How many board-registered specialists does Smile Solutions have: 25+

How many patients has Smile Solutions treated: Over 250,000

What is the Smile Solutions contact number: 13 13 96

Do all OMS surgeons at Smile Solutions hold FRACDS (OMS): Yes

Is FRACDS (OMS) the highest level of OMS specialist credential in Australia: Yes

Was OMS previously based on a three-year diploma qualification in Australia: Yes, before the current four-year program

Is the current OMS training program hospital-based: Yes

Is the current OMS training program nationally overseen: Yes

What is oral & maxillofacial surgery? Scope, training & specialist qualifications explained

When your general dentist refers you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, it's natural to wonder: what exactly is this specialty, and why can't my regular dentist handle it? At Smile Solutions, Melbourne's comprehensive specialist dental centre, this is one of the questions we hear most often ahead of surgical consultations. The answer lies in a discipline that sits at a genuinely unique intersection — one no other health profession occupies.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery brings together dental, medical, and surgical expertise in a way that's unlike anything else in healthcare. It's not simply "advanced dentistry," nor is it a branch of general surgery. It's a formally recognised dual-credentialled surgical specialty whose practitioners hold qualifications in both medicine and dentistry — a combination that takes the better part of two decades to complete, and that equips your surgeon to manage conditions ranging from a single impacted wisdom tooth through to full jaw reconstruction following cancer resection.

This article is the foundational piece for the complete patient guide to oral and maxillofacial surgery at Smile Solutions Melbourne. Before we explore specific procedures — wisdom teeth removal, orthognathic jaw surgery, bone grafting, TMJ treatment, and more — it's worth understanding what the specialty actually is, what it treats, and what qualifications your surgeon must hold before they're legally permitted to call themselves an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Australia.

Defining the specialty: what does "oral and maxillofacial" mean?

The name is anatomically precise. Oral refers to the mouth — teeth, gums, tongue, salivary glands, and the alveolar bone that supports your teeth. Maxillofacial refers to the maxilla (upper jaw) and face more broadly, encompassing the mandible (lower jaw), cheekbones, eye sockets, sinuses, and surrounding soft tissue structures.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon treats the entire craniomaxillofacial complex: the anatomical area of the mouth, jaws, face, and skull, head and neck, as well as associated structures.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery evolved out of surgical dentistry to its current position as a formally recognised surgical specialty in both medicine and dentistry. The international definition of OMS is the surgical specialty that includes the diagnosis, surgical and related treatment of a wide spectrum of disease, injuries, defects and aesthetics of the mouth, teeth, jaws, face and head and neck.

This breadth is what distinguishes the specialty from every adjacent field. Your general dentist treats conditions of the teeth and supporting tissues. An ENT surgeon focuses on the ear, nose, and throat. A plastic surgeon addresses soft tissue reconstruction. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is the specialist trained to operate across all of these zones — particularly where the hard and soft tissues of the face and jaws intersect.

The full scope of conditions treated

One of the most common misconceptions about oral and maxillofacial surgery is that it's primarily a "wisdom teeth specialty." While impacted third molars are indeed the most frequently performed procedure — third molar surgery is the most common oral surgical procedure — the scope extends well beyond dentoalveolar surgery.

The scope of practice of the oral and maxillofacial surgery specialty is quite broad, and surgeons perform procedures in the office setting as well as in hospitals and ambulatory centres. Surgical extractions of impacted teeth (usually wisdom teeth) and dental implants are among the most frequently performed procedures and common reasons for referrals.

The full clinical scope includes:

Dentoalveolar and implant surgery

• Surgical removal of impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth
• Bone grafting for dental implant site preparation (including sinus lifts and ridge augmentation)
• Dental implant placement
• Alveolar bone surgery for denture preparation

Jaw and facial skeletal surgery

• Orthognathic surgery to correct patients' function, restore facial harmony, and treat obstructions caused by growth abnormalities of the jaws and facial bones
• Surgical correction of overbite, underbite, open bite, and severe skeletal malocclusion

Facial trauma

• Treatment of fractures of the jaws and facial bones, as well as repairing lacerations of the face and neck — making oral and maxillofacial surgeons essential members of the facial trauma team at community hospitals, major hospitals, and academic centres.

Pathology and oncology

• Removal of cysts and tumours — benign and malignant — from the mouth, face, and salivary glands.
• Diagnosis and surgical management of oral cancers and jaw lesions

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

• Treatment of infections of the mouth, face, and neck, and surgeries to correct conditions of the temporomandibular joint.
• Arthroscopy, arthroplasty, and joint replacement for end-stage TMJ disease

Reconstructive surgery

• Post-traumatic facial reconstruction using plates, screws, and soft tissue techniques
• Jaw reconstruction following cancer resection, including microvascular free flap procedures
• Post-residency sub-specialty fellowships are available in head and neck cancer with microvascular reconstruction, and craniofacial surgery including cleft lip and palate repair and surgery for craniosynostosis.

Periodic surveys performed in 1986, 1995, and 2011 show that most Australian oral and maxillofacial surgeons now routinely operate on facial trauma, oral malignancy, and skin pathology — areas previously deferred to other surgical specialties. This reflects how the specialty's scope has deepened over recent decades.

Why the dual-degree requirement matters clinically

The reason oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia must hold both a dental degree and a medical degree isn't bureaucratic — it's genuinely clinical.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist, medical practitioner, and dental/medical specialist. They manage and treat more conditions than oral surgeons because they have completed a dental degree and a medical degree.

A purely dental education provides deep knowledge of teeth, occlusion, and the periodontium, but limited training in systemic medicine, anaesthesia, and surgical management of trauma or cancer. A purely medical education provides broad physiological and surgical knowledge, but limited understanding of dental anatomy, occlusal biomechanics, and the specific pathology of the jaws. In the surgical world, oral and maxillofacial surgery is now the most obvious link between the medical and dental communities and should act as a natural conduit for "reunification" with the potential to reduce unhelpful prejudice and ignorance.

This dual foundation is why your oral and maxillofacial surgeon can manage, for example, a patient whose impacted wisdom tooth sits close to the inferior alveolar nerve and whose cardiac medication affects bleeding risk — a scenario requiring both dental surgical precision and medical pharmacological judgement.

With extensive training in anaesthesia, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in providing general anaesthesia/deep sedation, moderate IV sedation, minimal sedation, and local anaesthesia in the office. This anaesthesia competency — which a general dentist does not hold — is a critical patient safety differentiator for complex or anxious patients (see our guide on Anaesthesia Options for Oral Surgery: Local, IV Sedation & General Anaesthetic Compared).

The training pathway: how an oral and maxillofacial surgeon qualifies in Australia

Australia has one of the most rigorous oral and maxillofacial surgery training pathways in the world. Understanding it matters when you're evaluating who should perform your procedure. At Smile Solutions, all oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures are performed by surgeons who have completed this full training pathway, holding the highest level of specialist credentials available in Australia.

Step 1: Undergraduate dental degree (4–5 years)

The pathway begins with a dental degree — a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or equivalent — followed by full registration with the Dental Board of Australia. This typically takes four to five years and forms the foundation of clinical knowledge in oral anatomy, dental pathology, and restorative techniques.

Step 2: Undergraduate medical degree (4–6 years)

In Australia and New Zealand, oral and maxillofacial surgery is recognised as both a specialty of medicine and dentistry. Degrees in both medicine and dentistry are compulsory prior to being accepted for surgical training. The medical degree — a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS or MBChB) — adds another four to six years of study in physiology, pharmacology, pathology, internal medicine, and surgery.

Step 3: Surgery in General (SIG) residency (1 year)

Prior to applying to commence the OMS Program, candidates must hold a dental degree and full registration as a dentist, a medical degree and full registration as a medical practitioner, and have completed a full year of Surgery in General (SIG) rotations.

These SIG rotations must be related to surgery or acute care and may include general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology head and neck surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, ophthalmology surgery, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, urology, oral maxillofacial surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology, anaesthesia, emergency or intensive care.

Step 4: Specialist OMS surgical training (4 years)

This prestigious four-year program, recognised by Medical and Dental Councils in Australia and New Zealand, ensures standardised specialist training across the region through regional training centres. Trainees develop their surgical expertise under supervision, progressing towards independent practice.

Advanced surgical training involves countless hours in clinics, wards, and operating theatres in major tertiary hospitals, successful completion of examinations (Surgical Science and Training Examination and the Final Examination) and research.

In Australia and New Zealand, the acquisition of dual degrees and a year of general surgery are mandated as prerequisites before selection into a four-year OMS program that has been accredited by the Australian Medical and Dental Councils. This advanced training is based around a modular curriculum with a final examination leading to specialist registration in both medicine and dentistry in OMS.

Step 5: FRACDS (OMS) fellowship examination

Upon successful completion of the training program requirements and the Fellowship Examination, candidates can apply for Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — FRACDS(OMS) — a recognised qualification for specialist registration.

The FRACDS (OMS) qualification is the mandatory requirement to be registered as a specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon with the Dental Board of Australia, Medical Board of Australia, and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). It is also the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and Australian Dental Council.

How long does training actually take?

The total duration depends on whether the candidate completes dental school first (the "dental-first pathway") or medical school first (the "medical-first pathway"). In practice, the minimum cumulative time from beginning undergraduate study to achieving FRACDS (OMS) and specialist registration is approximately 14–17 years:

This is not a credential that can be shortcut. The specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery in Australia was formally recognised as a principal surgical specialty by the Commonwealth Health Department in 1998. Prior to this, over several decades, the specialty had evolved from a loosely associated group of dental practitioners with varying levels of qualifications to a dual medical/dental specialty with a rigorous, clearly defined and structured training pathway.

Training in Australia evolved from a three-year 'Diploma in Oral Surgery' run through the universities to the current four-year hospital-based, nationally overseen surgical training program. This evolution — driven by ANZAOMS and the RACDS — was specifically designed to ensure that the scope of practice matched the depth of training.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon vs. oral surgeon vs. general dentist: a critical distinction

There's genuine confusion around the terms 'Oral Surgeon' and 'Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.' In Australia, these are legally distinct titles, and the distinction has direct implications for what procedures each practitioner is qualified to perform.

An oral surgeon is a dentist and dental specialist. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist, medical practitioner, and dental/medical specialist.

An oral surgeon has completed a dental degree and three years of specialist dental training. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat conditions of the mouth, teeth, gums, and bone that supports the teeth in the jaws — and also treat disease, injuries, and defects of the jaw and face. This means that oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat a greater range of conditions than oral surgeons.

Oral surgeon and oral and maxillofacial surgeon are protected titles under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. A practitioner cannot legally use either title without holding the corresponding registration.

This distinction matters enormously when you're considering complex procedures. A general dentist extracting an impacted lower wisdom tooth in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve, or a patient requiring jaw surgery for a skeletal malocclusion, requires the specific training and hospital-based surgical access that only an FRACDS (OMS)-registered surgeon provides. (For a detailed analysis of when to choose a specialist over a general dentist, see our guide on Why Choose a Board-Registered Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Over a General Dentist for Complex Procedures.)

The specialty's place in the Australian healthcare system

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is one of nine dental specialties recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and is also a registered surgical specialty with AHPRA and the Australian Medical Council.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is recognised as a principal surgical specialty. As registered specialists, OMS surgeons have full access to the relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule for patient rebates for medical services that they provide.

This Medicare access matters practically for you as a patient. Because oral and maxillofacial surgeons are registered as both dental and medical specialists, they can claim applicable Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers for medical procedures performed in hospital — a rebate pathway that general dentists and oral surgeons cannot access. For you, this means that procedures such as jaw surgery and complex facial trauma repair may attract a Medicare rebate when performed by a board-registered oral and maxillofacial surgeon. (See our full breakdown in Oral Surgery Costs in Melbourne: What Wisdom Teeth Removal, Jaw Surgery & Bone Grafting Actually Cost.)

The Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS) is the principal body for the training and education of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. Accredited by the Australian Medical Council, Medical Council of New Zealand, Australian Dental Council, and Dental Council of New Zealand, the program equips trainees with advanced clinical skills, surgical expertise, and professional competencies to deliver the highest standard of care.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in collaboration with dentists and other specialists such as orthodontists, prosthodontists, ear nose and throat surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and oncologists as part of multidisciplinary teams to optimise the treatment of major conditions and diseases of the mouth, jaws, face and neck.

This multidisciplinary model is central to the care philosophy at Smile Solutions Melbourne, where oral and maxillofacial surgeons work alongside orthodontists, prosthodontists, and other dental specialists under one roof — enabling coordinated, personalised treatment planning for complex cases that would otherwise require multiple separate referrals across the city.

Why this specialty exists: the clinical case for dual qualification

The dual-degree requirement isn't a historical accident. It reflects the genuine clinical complexity of the craniomaxillofacial region.

Consider what your oral and maxillofacial surgeon must understand to safely perform orthognathic (jaw) surgery: the skeletal growth patterns of the craniofacial complex; the occlusal biomechanics of how upper and lower teeth articulate; the vascular anatomy of the face and jaw; the pharmacology of anaesthetic agents and their interactions with systemic medications; the management of post-operative airway compromise; and the radiographic interpretation of cone beam CT imaging to plan three-dimensional osteotomy cuts. No single undergraduate degree — dental or medical — covers all of this. The dual-degree training pathway was specifically designed to close that gap.

In the 1980s, the specialty developed a plan which involved hospital-based surgical training, a mandatory high-level college surgical examination, and detailed workforce and training studies. These were progressively implemented over the next twenty years with a dual degree (medicine and dentistry) and a final fellowship (FRACDS (OMS)), resulting in accreditation by the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Dental Council and recognition as a Principal Surgical Specialty by the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Key takeaways

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery is Australia's only dual medical-dental surgical specialty, treating conditions across the full spectrum from impacted wisdom teeth and jaw deformities to facial trauma, oral cancer, and jaw reconstruction.
• The FRACDS (OMS) qualification requires both a dental degree and a medical degree as mandatory prerequisites, followed by a Surgery in General residency year and four years of advanced specialist surgical training — a minimum of approximately 13–16 years of post-secondary education and training.
• FRACDS (OMS) is the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Dental Council, and it is the mandatory credential for specialist registration with AHPRA, the Dental Board of Australia, and the Medical Board of Australia.
• "Oral surgeon" and "oral and maxillofacial surgeon" are legally distinct protected titles in Australia. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon holds broader qualifications and treats a wider range of conditions — including jaw surgery, facial trauma, and oral cancer — that fall outside an oral surgeon's scope.
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are registered as both dental and medical specialists, giving them access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for applicable hospital-based procedures — a rebate pathway unavailable to general dentists.

Conclusion

Oral and maxillofacial surgery bridges the divide between medicine and dentistry — and if you're facing a complex surgical decision, understanding what that means in practice is your essential first step. Whether you've been referred for wisdom teeth removal, you're considering jaw surgery to correct a bite problem, you need bone grafting before dental implants, or you've been diagnosed with a jaw cyst or tumour, your surgeon's qualifications matter profoundly.

At Smile Solutions Melbourne, all oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures are performed by board-registered specialists holding the FRACDS (OMS) qualification — the highest level of specialist credential available in Australia, recognised by every relevant regulatory body. Our experienced specialists bring genuine clinical excellence to every consultation, combined with a warm and caring approach that puts you at ease from the very first appointment.

This foundational article sets the stage for the complete patient guide to oral and maxillofacial surgery at Smile Solutions. From here, explore the procedural guides that follow:

• For wisdom teeth specifically, see Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Causes, Symptoms & Why an Oral Surgeon - Not a General Dentist - Should Remove Them
• For jaw surgery, see Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery Melbourne: Who Needs It, What It Corrects & What to Expect
• For bone grafting, see Bone Grafting for Dental Implants: Types, Procedure & How Jaw Bone Loss Is Reversed
• For a full cost breakdown, see Oral Surgery Costs in Melbourne: What Wisdom Teeth Removal, Jaw Surgery & Bone Grafting Actually Cost (and What Medicare & Private Health Covers)

Smile Solutions has been providing oral and maxillofacial surgery care from Melbourne's CBD since 1993. Located at the Manchester Unity Building, Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Smile Solutions brings together 60+ clinicians — including 25+ board-registered specialists — who have cared for over 250,000 patients. No referral is required to book a specialist appointment. Call 13 13 96 or visit smilesolutions.com.au to arrange your oral surgery consultation.

References

• Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS). "About Us." ANZAOMS, 2024. https://www.anzaoms.org/about-us/
• Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS). "Becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon." ANZAOMS, 2024. https://www.anzaoms.org/membership/becoming-an-oms/
• Dental Board of Australia. "What Is the Difference Between an Oral Surgeon and an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?" Dental Board of Australia, 2023. https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Practitioner-resources/What-is-the-difference-between-an-oral-surgeon-and-an-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeon.aspx
• Dental Board of Australia. "Specialist Registration." Dental Board of Australia, 2024. https://www.dentalboard.gov.au/registration/specialist-registration.aspx
• Goss, A. and Linn, R. "Extractions to Reconstruction: The Development of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Australia and New Zealand." Australian Dental Journal, 2018. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/adj.12585
• Heggie, A. "Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: What Are Our Credentials?" Annals of Maxillofacial Surgery, 2013. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4073449/
• Mane, R., Sharpe-Davidson, W.F., De Silva, H., and Choi, J.J.E. "Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Surgery - What's the Difference? A Western Australian Dental Student Survey." Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ScienceDirect), 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0266435620305015
• Quinn, P.D. "What Is the Scope of Practice of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons?" Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2021. https://www.joms.org/article/S0278-2391(20)31252-0/fulltext
• Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). "Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery." RACDS, 2024. https://racds.org/education/oral-and-maxillofacial-surgery-oms/
• Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). "Become an OMS Specialist." RACDS, 2024. https://racds.org/become-an-oms-specialist/
• Kruger, E. et al. "Hospitalisation for the Surgical Removal of Impacted Teeth: Has Australia Followed International Trends?" PubMed/PMC, 2013. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3562882/
• Slade, G.D. et al. "Third Molar Extractions Among Australian Adults: Findings from the 2013 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey." PubMed/PMC, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9378918/

Label facts summary

Disclaimer: All facts and statements below are general informational content sourced from publicly available regulatory, institutional, and practitioner documentation — not professional medical or dental advice. Consult a qualified specialist for guidance specific to your circumstances.

Verified label facts

No product specification data was provided. No Product Facts table was present in the submitted content. The following are verifiable institutional and regulatory facts extracted from the body content, attributable to named regulatory bodies, legislation, and published training frameworks:

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery is recognised as a principal surgical specialty by the Commonwealth Health Department of Australia (recognition granted: 1998)
• The mandatory specialist qualification for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia is FRACDS (OMS) — Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• FRACDS (OMS) is recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Dental Council
• FRACDS (OMS) is the only qualification recognised by both the Australian Medical Council and the Australian Dental Council for this specialty
• Specialist registration is required with both the Dental Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia
• Registering body: AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency)
• Both a dental degree and a medical degree are mandatory prerequisites for specialist OMS training in Australia
• Undergraduate dental degree duration: 4–5 years
• Undergraduate medical degree duration: 4–6 years
• Surgery in General (SIG) residency requirement: 1 year
• Specialist OMS surgical training program duration: 4 years
• Minimum total training duration: approximately 13–16 years post-secondary
• Training examinations required: Surgical Science and Training Examination and the Final Examination
• Research is required during specialist OMS training
• Overseeing college for OMS training in Australia and New Zealand: Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS)
• RACDS is accredited by the Australian Medical Council, Medical Council of New Zealand, Australian Dental Council, and Dental Council of New Zealand
• "Oral surgeon" and "oral and maxillofacial surgeon" are legally distinct protected titles under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
• An oral surgeon holds a dental degree plus 3 years of specialist dental training; does not hold a medical degree
• An oral and maxillofacial surgeon holds a dental degree, a medical degree, SIG year, and 4 years of specialist training
• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule for applicable hospital-based procedures
• General dentists and oral surgeons (non-medical) cannot access Medicare rebates for hospital-based oral surgery procedures
• Sub-specialty fellowships available post-OMS training: head and neck cancer with microvascular reconstruction; craniofacial surgery (including cleft lip and palate and craniosynostosis)
• OMS training evolved from a three-year university-based Diploma in Oral Surgery to the current four-year hospital-based, nationally overseen program
• Smile Solutions location: Level 12 and Tower, 220 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD
• Smile Solutions has operated since: 1993
• Number of clinicians at Smile Solutions: 60+
• Number of board-registered specialists at Smile Solutions: 25+
• Patients treated by Smile Solutions: over 250,000
• Smile Solutions contact number: 13 13 96
• All OMS surgeons at Smile Solutions hold FRACDS (OMS)
• No referral is required to book a specialist appointment at Smile Solutions

General product claims

• Oral and maxillofacial surgery "occupies a genuinely unique intersection — one that no other health profession shares"
• OMS is described as "the most obvious link between the medical and dental communities"
• Smile Solutions is described as "Melbourne's comprehensive specialist dental centre"
• OMS surgeons at Smile Solutions are described as bringing "world-class care to every consultation"
• Smile Solutions' care philosophy is described as combining "clinical excellence with a genuinely warm and caring approach"
• The multidisciplinary model at Smile Solutions is described as enabling "coordinated, personalised treatment planning for complex cases"
• Australia's OMS training pathway is characterised as "one of the most rigorous... in the world"
• The dual-degree requirement is characterised as clinically — not bureaucratically — motivated
• OMS is described as capable of reducing "unhelpful prejudice and ignorance" between medical and dental communities (attributed to a cited source, not Smile Solutions directly)