Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Postgraduate Training Program

The University of Adelaide, in association with The Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, incorporating the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the South Australian Dental Service at the Adelaide Dental Hospital, offers an advanced education program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS). The course is designed to meet the requirements of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training program of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, and the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. This program leads to a Medical Degree (MBBS) from the University of Adelaide, Fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons [FRACDS (OMS)] and a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry degree (D.Clin.Dent.) also from The University of Adelaide.

The program is designed to provide the trainee sufficient theoretical and educational background to meet all current standards available in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Australia and New Zealand. All trainees are prepared for a career in Clinical Practice either in major public hospitals or private practice. In addition, they are encouraged to develop skills in teaching and research that would be a useful background for an academic career.
Generally, one to two years are spent in Clinical Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Training plus general medical and surgical background topics for partial fulfilment of the requirements in Basic Surgical training (BST).  Candidates must sit and pass the barrier exams in third year medicine. This is followed by lateral entry into the fourth year of the Medical Degree. On completion of the Medical Degree and Intern requirements, a further year in surgery in general (SIG) is required to complete BST. Selection into advanced surgical training (AST) can then occur. At least three years of AST is required prior to gaining eligibility to sit the FRACDS (OMS) examination.

Training can be tailored to individual needs and hence differing sequences of training and Medical Degree subjects can occur. The Doctor of Clinical Dentistry degree is commenced in the first two years, and then finalised in the latter period of surgical training.

Registrars in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery period receive a salary. During the Medical Degree component, no salary is paid. Appropriate University fees are applicable.

Doctor of Clinical Dentistry D.Clin.Dent

This program consists of either three years full-time plus clinical training or, more commonly, four to six years part-time including clinical training.

The distribution of credit towards a Degree is clinical training 60%, course work 10%, research 30%.

The research project is usually in a clinical area, although animal laboratory studies are conducted. The research commitment may also be met by a series of publications in referred journals. The FRACDS(OMS) exam is the National Standard exit examination in Clinical OMS.