About us - ANZAOMS

Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons really make a difference

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) can perform a wide range of medical and dental procedures – from tooth extractions, to dental implants, to extensive facial reconstruction, and treatment of head and neck cancers.

What makes an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon special?

Current requirements for entry to the OMS training program requires both dental and medical degrees. In addition to a Surgery In General (SIG) residency, they have completed a dedicated four-year advanced surgical training program through the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). The Fellowship awarded by the college is the FRACDS (OMS) and is the qualification recognised for registration as an OMS specialist surgeon in Australia and New Zealand. This means that an OMS is the specialist bridging the gap between medicine and dentistry.

Highly trained Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons have expertise to:

Perform wisdom teeth and dentoalveolar surgery.
Extract infected, impacted or diseased teeth.
Optimally place dental implants and carry out grafting procedure in preparation for placement of dental implants.
Treat facial trauma, including lacerations, facial bone fractures and other facial injuries.
Perform orthognathic (corrective) jaw surgery to correct dentofacial deformities and treat misaligned bites and jaws.

Provide advice and/or undertake surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Diagnose and surgically treat cancers of the head, neck and mouth.
Treat temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).
Investigate and manage diseases and pathology of the oral and maxillofacial region.
Treat salivary gland disease.
Perform cleft lip and palate & craniofacial surgery.
Perform facial aesthetic & cosmetic surgery.

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.

About our Association

The Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) is the peak professional body for the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) in Australia and New Zealand. Our binational head office is based in Sydney’s CBD and there are five branches around Australia and one in New Zealand that promote and support the objectives of the Association. All ANZAOMS members are eligible to join their local branch that deals with matters relevant to local members and arranges regular meetings and events.

Our mission

The Association undertakes a wide range of activities for the advancement and advocacy of the specialty and facilitates ongoing education for our members and the general public.

ANZAOMS activities include:

Publishing and communicating relevant information to members and the general public.
Conducting regular scientific meetings and encouraging the improvement of professional standards for the continuing education of members and therefore the health of communities, across Australia and New Zealand.
Continuing education and professional development of surgeons in the wider Oceania region.
Representing oral and maxillofacial surgeons to government and other institutions.
Provision of specialty input and professional expertise to regulatory bodies.
Support for quality assurance programs associated with the scope of the specialty.
Collaboration with national and international professional associations.
Providing guidance to members on their responsibility as an OMS through a Code of Ethics.
Providing strategic direction and logistical assistance in the organisation of humanitarian surgical missions overseas or aid programs in indigenous Australia, by our members.
Providing representatives to the RACDS OMS Board of Studies that oversees the selection, education and examination of trainees and the accreditation of training programs.

The history of ANZAOMS

Surgery of the mouth and jaws was part of general dentistry and general surgery until the 1950’s when the first oral surgery specialty was formed in Australia and New Zealand. From this base, the specialty of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) has evolved. Since the 1990s fully trained specialists with full Dental, Medical and extensive surgical training, leading to the qualification of FRACDS(OMS), form the specialist group.

ANZAOMS has the leadership role in the Specialty, in association with the Board of Studies for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS). ANZAOMS was a foundation member of the International Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and is responsible for the Oceania Region. The full history of the development of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in Australia & New Zealand has been published in the book “Extractions to Reconstruction” by Alastair Goss & Rob Linn.

Note: The information covered within this web page and across this website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is listed to provide you with a general overview to help you communicate effectively when you seek the advice of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.