Looking at all those names, it seems kind of silly how those exact same people wouldn't be able to register as an OMFS, but "just" an OS if they did the same training today.
Well, that is just the way it is in Australia. I also am an OMS in the states, but if I come to Australia will be registered as an OS there now. Its just politics, nothing more.
In Australia they have just decided to have 2 categories of registration and have made them technically 2 seperate specialties. So I wouldn't say "just" an OS. Because these are technically/
legally 2 seperate and distinct dental specialties in Australia (one does not control the other); that would be like saying one surgeon is "just" an ENT and not a Plastic surgeon, or just an endodontist and not a paediatric dentist. Does that make sense? I know its confusing in Aus/NZ.
As long as you are a
registered specialist OS or OMS (doesn't matter which);
AND as long as you can demonstrate
competence in the procedures you wish to perform (i.e. you can show you have been formally trained to do them and you have a logbook with sufficient cases) then you can get credentialed to do the same thing (practice the same scope).
It seems like the 4-year OMS programs/certificates in South Africa / USA are the popular options.
Is there a risk though that such training programs aren't accepted for mutual recognition afterwards? Especially if going for options like the MDS courses in HK and SG which are only 3 years and not the "norm" like the 4 year certificate programs
I don't know if I would say they are more popular per se. There are probably more South African specialists here because like us they come from a traditionally British Commonwealth education system (and because many of them wanted to leave their Country due to rampant violent crime which made it unsafe for them to stay there). This also equates to their programs getting lots of trauma experience.
The US programs have always been well rounded and overall good programs, and American training (like American currency) fairly accepted world wide.
Singapore is a very safe place (so less trauma experience), but you would probably get great training in benign path, orthognathics, and of course wisdom teeth and implants/grafting, and probably some TMJ.
It won't matter if you complete your training in the USA, South Africa, or Singapore. If you return to Australia after any of these programs (without med degree) you will be considered for the OS category not OMS (unless you have fulfilled a couple extra tick-boxes). But again, it depends on exactly what your goals are. As I've already pointed out, for
most things this
does not make a difference OS / OMS in Australia or NZ!
To be registrable (for OS) you need an absolute minimum of 3 years full time training and you have to have a logbook of your cases, and you need to have research experience usually (at minimum) in the form of a masters level degree.
OMS of course have their own list of minimum requirements which are longer. Including but not limited to: registered med degree, (and internship year), and a general surgery year, etc. But when it comes the actual OMS training: they also want a min 3-4 years.
In Australia and NZ:
- The local RACDS OMS program is 4 years
- The local OS programs are also 4 years (1 Dip + 3 DClinDent)
This was an interesting paper I came across while doing some preliminary research
Training Pathways in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Across the Globe—A Mini Review
It sounds like there are a few hurdles to jump through after coming back from overseas training. Do you have any insight into this process Smith88?
In order to apply for registration as a specialist (OS or OMS) in Australia (as an overseas trained specialist). You have to apply to the Dental Board of Australia / ADC for recognition of your overseas training as equivalent to Australian training.
One difference is that for
OS (just like all other dental specialities) it is the
Dental Board that will complete this assessment themselves. For
OMS, the Dental Board instead direct you to apply to the OMS Board at the
RACDS and they are the ones who complete that assessment.
So again, for OMS they have their own seperate entity that controls the local training and regulation. Seperate from all other dental specialties.
if they had a medical degree without changing anything in their training, then they are able to register as an OMFS as if the medical degree is just a box to tick and nothing more (especially if doing med AFTERWARDS can satisfy this...)
To add to your confusion, I have also seen in Australia a couple of dual qualified (BDS and MBBS) people who are registered OS (not OMS) and perform wide scope clinical practice. One guy did dent, OS training, then med, then a couple extra years of training in plastics/head and neck (but was a registered OS - not OMS or any other specialty).
One benefit to completing an MDS in OMS from Singapore, USA, Canada, South Africa (places where a med degree is not required to enter into the training program) would be the fastest path to being registered as a specialist (OMS overseas / OS if returning to Aus/NZ).
If you wanted to be registered as an OMS for some reason in Aus you would as I pointed out above; have to apply to the RACDS directly and tick their boxes to join the club: which include going back and completing a med degree, internship year (required for registration of your med degree), and then probably another year of supervised practice as a senior OMS reg and then sitting the FRACDS (OMS) exam.
Alternatively, there is nothing wrong with 1. completing overseas OMS training and then registering as a specialist OS in Australia and then 2. completing a medical degree (if you wanted to be dual qualified) remaining a registered OS with a wide scope of practice.
Additionally, don't forget that it would be easier to complete your degrees in the country you wish to ultimately practice in. You asked about the 6 year American OMS + MD programs; but remember if you wanted to come back to Australia and register you also now have the hurdle of sitting the AMC (international medical graduate exam!) and then will probably have to redo your internship year to get medical registration.