Dental and medical dual qualification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: a global identity.

Abstract

The argument of whether or not Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) should have both dental and medical core education in the training pathway remains an issue of debate and contention to date. The mid-90s witnessed a gradual trend internationally towards a dual qualification which has slowed down or come to a standstill the last 10 years. This has been more evident in rapidly growing nations in the Middle East/North Africa and Asian subcontinent regions. The maxillofacial identity of a dual degree is being questioned in OMFS-pioneering countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), which has played a role in the domination of the single degree pathway globally. In this mini review, we will attempt to shed light on the aforementioned regions and put forward a more global role the UK can play in standardising education and training while addressing the cost burden of the dual qualification pathway.