Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Programs

Types of Programs

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

We offer oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies, internships and externships.

Residency tracks

The oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program offers two tracks:

• One appointment for a four-year advanced education residency certificate
• Two appointments for a six-year advanced education residency certificate plus Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree

Residents rotate at UMKC School of Dentistry, Children’s Mercy Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, and University Health.

Internships

In addition to the residency program, we have internship positions available:

• Up to two appointments at the outpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic at University Health 
• Up to two appointments at the UMKC School of Dentistry oral surgery clinic

Following The Match process in January, submit your application by mail or email:

University Health internship application

Anita Haney
Residency Program Coordinator
University Health
2101 Charlotte St. Ste. 310
Kansas City, MO 64108
anita.haney@uhkc.org

School of Dentistry internship application

Melanie Simmer-Beck
Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 East 25th St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
simmerbeckm@umkc.edu

A formal interview visit may be required prior to acceptance into the internship program. Funding for travel to the interview is the responsibility of the applicant.

Externships for dental students

We also offer one- to four-week externships for qualified dental students considering a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Students are expected to participate in the operating room and clinical management of patients as well as taking call and the scheduled didactic conferences of the residency program. The extern may be involved in clinical patient care that occurs at the University Health and Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Externship application (PDF)

All positions are sponsored by the UMKC School of Dentistry and accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Residency Program Objectives

These broad objectives are realized by specialty courses, daily contact with the teaching staff, interactions with patients, requirements for scientific publications and research. They are reviewed on a continual basis and modified as necessary to expand and enhance the learning experience. Faculty of the oral surgery residency program and the UMKC School of Medicine participate in the review.

• To develop the skills of the resident through didactic preparation, clinical experience, and hospital training; to ultimately engender a state-of-the-art maxillofacial surgeon
• To foster the attitude of continued scientific inquiry, intellectual aspirations, and pursuit of excellence for the remainder of the individual’s career
• To develop a profound sense of responsibility to the academic community, and to one’s patients
• To share one’s education, training and experience through participation in scientific meetings and through publications

Acquired competencies

• Diagnosis and surgical management
  • Soft and hard tissue diseases of the oral cavity, head and neck
  • Precancerous lesions, benign and malignant neoplasms of the head and neck
  • Cranio-maxillofacial trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction
  • Congenital and acquired cranio-maxillofacial deformities with post-reconstructive rehabilitation
  • Temporomandibular joint disorders. Life-threatening emergencies
• Intravenous sedation and intubated general anesthesia

Clinical experience

Thirty-three months are devoted to clinical oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Didactic activity

There are weekly seminars, clinical pathologic conferences, morbidity reviews, case reviews, oral pathology seminars, trauma conferences, surgical-orthodontic conferences, journal club, medical decision-making course and head and neck tumor board.

• Residents are required to regularly review textbooks, monthly issues of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and monitor all pertinent journals and articles to maintain a contemporary knowledge of maxillofacial surgery.
• Mandatory attendance at a minimum of two scientific conferences annually
• Preparation and submission for publication of at least two scientific manuscripts
• Mandatory attendance at the annual Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Test – a comprehensive 400 multiple choice question test, prepared by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Four-year certificate track responsibilities and activities by year

Year 1: Seven months on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service between University Health and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Remaining five months are dedicated to anesthesia service at University Health. The resident works closely with the senior residents, providing both inpatient and outpatient care. The resident has primary responsibility for examining, diagnosing and treating patients in the outpatient clinic. The resident also assumes responsibility for inpatients under the supervision of the chief resident, and assists the chief resident and staff with operating room cases.
Year 2: Function as a General Surgery PGY-1 intern for six months, rotating through trauma surgery, ENT, plastics, neurosurgery and surgical critical rare. Four more months are spent rotating as a medical intern through cardiology, pulmonology, critical care and infectious disease. The final two months are spent on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service.
Year 3: Function as a senior resident and spend most time on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service assisting the chief resident in the operating room. Four months will be spent rotating through the St. Luke’s Hospital rotation. Four months rotating through the UMKC School of Dentistry oral surgery clinic where they will focus on implantology and sedation procedures.
Year 4: Function as a chief resident, assuming the responsibility for the overall function of the oral and maxillofacial service. The resident is expected to be the primary operating surgeon on all major cases. One month is spent at the Children’s Mercy Hospital on the plastic and craniofacial surgery service and up to two months on the pediatric anesthesiology service.

Six-year certificate plus MD track responsibilities and activities by year

First-year residents enrolled in the OMS certificate plus MD curriculum must complete two requirements before beginning the MD program:

• Pass step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) exam
• Pass a structured standardized patient exam approved by UMKC School of Medicine

Year 1: Spend six months on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service between University Health and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Remaining five months are dedicated to anesthesia service at the Truman Medical Center. The resident works closely with the senior residents, providing both inpatient and outpatient care. The resident has primary responsibility for examining, diagnosing and treating patients in the outpatient clinic. The resident also assumes responsibility for inpatients under the supervision of the chief resident and assists the chief resident and staff with operating room cases.
Years 2-3: Fulfill curriculum and core rotation requirements leading to the MD degree at the UMKC School of Medicine
Year 4: Function as a general surgery PGY-1 intern, rotating through trauma surgery, ENT, plastics, neurosurgery, surgical critical care, and oral and maxillofacial surgery
Year 5: Function as a senior resident and spend most time on the oral and maxillofacial surgery service assisting the chief resident in the operating room. Four months will be spent rotating through the St. Luke’s Hospital rotation. They will also spend four months rotating through the UMKC School of Dentistry oral surgery clinic where they will focus on implantology and sedation procedures.
Year 6: Function as a chief resident, assuming the responsibility for the overall function of the oral and maxillofacial service. The resident is expected to be the primary operating surgeon on all major cases. One month is spent at Children’s Mercy Hospital on the plastic and craniofacial surgery service and up to two months on the pediatric anesthesiology service.

Licensure Requirements

Before starting residency:

• U.S. regional or equivalent Canadian clinical licensure exam
• Missouri dental license

Admissions Requirements

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Evidence of graduation from a school of dentistry accredited by the American Dental Association or the Canadian Dental Association
• Minimum 3.0 dental school GPA
• Top 75% class ranking 
• CBSE exam results
  • Four-year track:
    • From 08-2019 to 02-2022: three-digit score of 159 or higher
    • As of 02-2022: two-digit score of 58 or higher (total equated percent correct)
  • Six-year MD track:
    • From 08-2019 to 02-2022: three-digit score of 194 or higher
    • As of 02-2022: two-digit score of 62 or higher (total equated percent correct)

How to Apply

The application process is competitive. Selection is based on several factors, including class rank, experience (general practice residency, other dental residency or a practicing dentist), CBSE scores, motivation for a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery, suitability specifically for the UMKC oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program, professional demeanor and future career goals.

• Complete the American Dental Education Association's (ADEA) Postdoctoral Application Support Services (PASS) application and submit all documentation directly through PASS (four-year track – OMS2001, six-year track– OMS243)
  • Official dental school transcripts
  • Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) scores (not required for application review)
  • Institutional Evaluation Form (IEF)
  • Minimum of three dental faculty evaluators for the Professional Evaluation Form (PEF)
  • Register with the National Matching Services (The MATCH)
• CBSE exam
• When we have received your PASS materials, we will send you an email with a link to complete the UMKC general application and submit all documentation directly through the UMKC application portal
  • Application fee
  • Application documents such as proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Selected candidates will be invited to Kansas City for an interview. All invited candidates must attend this session to be eligible for final selection into the class. During the interview, the applicant will meet with the oral and maxillofacial surgery faculty, who will answer the applicant’s questions about the program. Funding for travel to the interview is the responsibility of the applicant.

Please do not send a copy of your application or any documents directly to the UMKC School of Dentistry.

Application deadline: October 1 (the year before planned enrollment)

Required reading

Download application information (PDF) 

Costs and Funding

Oral surgery residents receive a stipend during four years of residency.

Residents in Years 2 and 3 of the six-year certificate and MD track will not receive a stipend for those two years and must find another source of income for tuition, such as student loans.

Tuition and fees