Knowledge and perception of dental students, interns, and newly graduated dentists towards oral surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery as specialties and their scope

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine if dental students, interns, and newly graduated dentists' perception of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon's (OMS) surgical scope would change when OMS was used instead of an oral surgeon (OS). Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed dental students, interns, and newly graduated dentists' choice of specialist to treat 20 different conditions. The independent variable was the term of the specialty (OMS vs.OS). The dependent variables were specialists chosen for the procedure (ENT surgeon; plastic surgeon; OMS or OS; periodontist; other). Results: Dental students' perception of the OMS's surgical scope increased significantly from 35.7% to 49.8% when OMS was used instead of OS. Interns' perception of the OMS's surgical scope increased significantly from 36.4% to 52.4% when OMS was used as an option instead of OS. Dentists' perception of the OMS's surgical scope increased but was not significant from 39.1% to 45.1% when OMS was used instead of OS. Conclusion: The use of OMS increased students, intern, and newly graduated dentists' perception of the OMS's surgical scope.