Paediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery

What is it in children?

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat the face, jaws, mouth and neck. In children, that means deformities of the skull or face, including cleft lip and palate, as well as facial injuries ^{[1, 2]}. OMFS is unique among the medical specialties in needing a dental qualification as well as a medical one ^[3].

Typical conditions and operations

• Cleft lip and palate ^{[1, 2]}.
• Craniofacial deformity, congenital or developmental, including the skull ^[2].
• Facial trauma to the face, jaws, mouth and neck ^[2].
• Conditions of the teeth, mouth and jaws ^[2].
• Head and neck infections and salivary gland conditions ^[2].

How to get there

You need both a medical and a dental degree, and registration with both the GMC and the GDC ^{[3, 4]}. Most OMFS surgeons studied dentistry first, but a growing number start with medicine, helped by shortened three-year dental degrees for OMFS trainees ^[3].

1. Two degrees

   In either order ^[3].

   • About 75%Dentistry first

     Then a shortened medical degree for dental graduates ^{[1, 3]}.

   • A growing numberMedicine first

     Then a shortened, three-year dental degree ^[3].

2. 2 yearsFoundation Programme

   The two-year UK Foundation Programme ^[5].

3. Choose your entry point
   • ST1 to ST7Run-through from ST1

     National selection at ST1, then on to the end of training, subject to review ^[6]. Phase 1 is one year, and you need to pass the MRCS to move on. Indicative length is six years ^[2].

   • ClosingCore training, then ST3

     At least 12 months of core surgical training and the MRCS ^[3]. Indicative length is five years from ST3 ^[2]. The last ST3 round is for posts starting in February 2027 ^{[7, 8]}.

4. FRCS (OMFS), then CCT

   The Intercollegiate Specialty Board exam is the exit exam for the specialty ^[3].

5. Cleft and other fellowships

   Towards the end of training, some OMFS trainees do interface fellowships, including cleft surgery. BAOMS says these are moving to after CCT ^{[3, 9]}.

Good to know

• Total training takes about 11 years after your medical degree if you studied medicine first, or about 13 years after your dental degree if you studied dentistry first ^[1].
• Both ST1 and ST3 posts were recruited for 2026, but ST3 entry is being phased out. After the round for posts starting in February 2027, run-through from ST1 is expected to be the only way in ^{[10, 4, 7]}.

Getting involved as a student

• BAOMS student membership is free for first and second degree students. It includes reciprocal ASiT membership and discounted conference tickets ^[3].
• The Junior Trainees' Group covers everyone from first-degree students to dual-qualified trainees, and runs an annual conference where you can present your work ^[11]. It also has an essay prize ^[12].
• BAOMS student bursaries are still awarded, with 2025/26 recipients published ^[13].