Sir, as a second degree medical student (dentist first, qualified in 2013) entering my fourth year of study, I am saddened to see that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is still not a part of the undergraduate medical curriculum. This highlights an apparent dissociation between the dental and medical professions.
In an era where patients are treated more holistically than ever, there should be much more focus on oral health in hospitals. There is a plethora of evidence to prove that poor oral hygiene can contribute to ischaemic heart disease, stroke and pneumonia.1 Additionally, there is increasing focus on the benefits of a multidisciplinary team; however, the role of the dentist is rarely appreciated. We propose that ear, nose and throat undergraduate rotations incorporate OMFS teaching, with both specialities receiving recognition. We believe the lack of awareness of OMFS amongst medical students sets a negative precedent for the rest of juniors' working careers and hope to see a change in this practice.
References
Joshy G, Arora M, Korda R J et al. Is poor oral health a risk marker for incident cardiovascular disease hospitalisation and all-cause mortality? Findings from 172 630 participants from the prospective 45 and Up Study. BMJ Open 2016; 6: e012386.
Yoneyama T, Yoshida M, Matsui T, Sasaki H. Oral care and pneumonia. Oral Care Working Group. Lancet 1999; 354: 515.
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Axiotis, N., Benson, L. An apparent dissociation . Br Dent J 227, 175 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0629-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0629-4