5 things to know about the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Sixth installment of Specialty Spotlight

Editor’s note: This is the sixth installment in a 13-part ADA News series profiling the National Commission and each of the 12 recognized specialty sponsoring organizations. Here are five facts you may not know about the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons from its president, J. David Morrison, D.M.D.

1. Through AAOMS’s National Simulation Program, oral and maxillofacial surgeons can practice and master critical techniques for administering and monitoring office-based anesthesia. AAOMS offers an office-based emergency airway management module that uses state-of-the-art technology to simulate a full range of intensive real-life experiences. The course is offered at a simulation lab at the Daniel M. Laskin Institute for OMS Education and Innovation at AAOMS headquarters in Rosemont, Illinois, and in conjunction with AAOMS and regional society meetings.
2. AAOMS advocates for the specialty by engaging in federal and state legislative and regulatory issues, encouraging member action through grassroots participation and backing federal congressional candidates who support the goals of the specialty through OMSPAC, our political action committee. AAOMS routinely collaborates with the ADA, supporting increased facility fees and repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, addressing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and other insurance issues, and working to advance the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act and student debt relief. AAOMS also works with other dental specialty organizations and recently developed model sedation regulations with dentist anesthesiologists and periodontists. AAOMS invites its members to attend the annual Day on the Hill event in Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional members and their staffers about the federal legislative issues affecting the specialty.
3. AAOMS’s award-winning multichannel informational campaign launched two new podcast series – OMS Voices and AAOMS On the Go. OMS Voices — featured on the public-facing MyOMS.org website — helps patients understand the specialized skills, expertise and scope of practice of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. AAOMS On the Go — tailored for oral and maxillofacial surgeons and anyone interested in the specialty — features conversations on clinical practices, research advancements, emerging trends, advocacy efforts and professional development. Both series are available on all popular podcast platforms.
4. AAOMS offers a wide range of continuing education courses to not only oral and maxillofacial surgeons, but all dental professionals. The AAOMS CE library includes clinical, coding and billing, and practice management courses on a multitude of topics. At the annual Dental Implant Conference, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are encouraged to bring referring dentists to learn about the latest clinical advancements in dental implants.
5. With a priority focus on wellness, AAOMS partnered with the Parkdale Center for Professionals to offer a AAOMS Cares: Being Well Together program that provides private and confidential resources for members affected by substance use disorders. This initiative is dedicated to the well-being of members, fostering a supportive and nonjudgmental environment to ensure they receive the help needed to maintain their health and professional standards.

For more information about AAOMS, visit aaoms.org.