Oral and Maxillofacial Training: The Perspective of Turkish Residents

Method: An online questionnaire using Likert type and rating scale was distributed to OMFS trainees, and specialists. The forms sent to trainees comprised questions on motivations in their choice of oral and maxillofacial surgery as a specialty; satisfaction with oral and maxillofacial surgery training; their intent of surgical scope when they complete their training. The forms sent to specialists included their scope of surgery; satisfaction they get from their scope of surgery; confidence in their surgical skills to perform major surgery. 

Result: Although 100% of the specialists and 86% of trainees felt competent performing minor surgical procedures, only 15% of the trainees and 13% of surgeons indicated that their education had prepared them well to carry out major surgical procedures. 70% of trainees attributed the unsatisfying education they received to insufficient theoretical training and having an opportunity to have hands-on experience only in narrow range of procedures. When they were asked about the ideal form of training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, half of the specialist and 67% of trainees suggested double qualification (first dentistry and then medicine) before enrolling in an OMFS programme while 33% of trainees and the other half of specialists thought the ideal form of education include only dental degree followed by specialty training.

Conclusion: Trainees as well as specialists in OMFS would llike to expand their scope of practice but feel incompetent to do so. Double degree was suggested to improve the current education in the field of OMFS in Turkey.