title: What is in a name? Oral and maxillofacial surgeon versus oral surgeon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 1975, the American Society of Oral Surgeons officially changed its name to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. This change was intended to address the specialty's expanding surgical scope. However, today, many health care professionals continue to use the term oral surgeon. This study was undertaken to determine if students' perception of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon's (OMS) surgical scope would change when oral and maxillofacial surgeon was used instead of oral surgeon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study surveyed undergraduate and dental students' choice of specialist to treat 21 different conditions. The independent variable was the specialty term (oral and maxillofacial surgeon vs oral surgeon). The dependent variables were specialists chosen for the procedure (ear, nose, and throat surgeon; plastic surgeon; OMS or oral surgeon; periodontist; other). The test of proportions (z test) with the Yates correction was performed for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 280 senior dental students who were surveyed, 258 surveys were included in the study. Dental students' perception of the OMS's surgical scope increased significantly from 51% to 55% when oral and maxillofacial surgeon was used instead of oral surgeon. Of the 530 undergraduate upper division science students who were surveyed, 488 surveys were included in the study. Undergraduate upper division science students' perception of the OMS's surgical scope increased significantly from 23% to 31% when oral and maxillofacial surgeon was used as an option instead of oral surgeon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of oral and maxillofacial surgeon increased students' perception of the OMS's surgical scope. This study also suggested that students were not fully aware of the magnitude of the OMS's scope of practice. The current dichotomy and inconsistent use of the specialty's official term adds to the confusion and to misunderstanding. Therefore, OMSs should universally refer to themselves as oral and maxillofacial surgeons and help educate others of their scope.
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA. Electronic address: guerrero.omfs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andre V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Post-baccalaureate Student, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altamirano
authors.affiliation: Dental Student, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Dentistry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Christina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Jacobi Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Katayoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tajik
authors.affiliation: Masters Student, Department of Medical Science, Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Professor and Program Director, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herford
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D009275:Names; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010517:Periodontics; D011364:Professional Practice; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012953:Societies, Dental; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D013518:Surgery, Plastic