ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- With the results of his recently commissioned occupational survey of oral and maxillofacial surgery in hand, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 438 into law, thereby permitting oral and maxillofacial surgeons, based on their education and training, to perform elective facial cosmetic procedures.

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HZA Assessments, which conducted the occupational survey for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, determined that oral and maxillofacial surgeons have "sufficient education, training and experience to safely and competently perform elective facial cosmetic procedures."

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Jay P. Malmquist, president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, was pleased with Gov. Schwarzenegger's decision to sign the legislation. Speaking to the House of Delegates at the AAOMS Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, he said, "Enacting this legislation not only guarantees patients continued access to quality care for all reconstructive and cosmetic procedures of the face and neck, while significantly increasing their choice of providers, it also helps to secure the accreditation of the state's nine prestigious oral and maxillofacial surgery residency training programs."

While they are dental specialists by virtue of their dental education and degree, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are also medically-surgically trained. OMSs complete four or more years of a hospital-based surgical residency that incorporates a core surgical year with rotations to medical and surgical services where they function at the resident level of responsibility. During their training, OMSs diagnose and treat diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. In comparison to any other specialty, the OMS residency encompasses the most detailed and extensive training in this anatomical area.

When it comes to repairing facial trauma caused by sports injuries, car crashes and street violence, OMSs are essential in the hospital emergency department. They have also been indispensable in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, where 18-23% of war injuries are maxillofacial injuries. These same surgical skills and techniques used to treat trauma victims, including management of soft tissues, injuries, nasal fractures, orbital fractures, etc., are required to perform elective facial cosmetic procedures.

With the Governor's approval of this legislation, California is no longer the only state restricting the scope of practice of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. California's law is now in line with laws in most other states, which allow oral and maxillofacial surgeons to perform elective cosmetic procedures of the face and neck.

Saving Faces, Changing Lives - The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), the professional organization representing more than 8,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States, supports its fellows' and members' ability to practice their specialty through education, research and advocacy. AAOMS fellows and members comply with rigorous continuing education requirements and submit to periodic office examinations, ensuring the public that all office procedures and personnel meet stringent national standards.

SOURCE American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons