Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Last updated: 15:36, November 4 (Tue), 2008
Jinichi Fukuta
President of the Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
The history of oral and maxillofacial surgery dates back to the era of ancient Egypt. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates, who lived from 460 to 377 BC, described a method for manually reducing dislocation of the mandible, indicating the long history of this discipline. In Japan, the "Yoro Code," instituted in 718 AD, established a specialty for the treatment of diseases and conditions of the ears, eyes, mouth, and teeth. The "Yoka Hiroku" (Theory and Practice of Medicine), written by a disciple of Seishu Hanaoka (1760 to 1835), describes surgery and tooth extraction in patients with oral and maxillofacial diseases such as cleft lip, maxillary cancer, and tongue cancer.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is defined as a specialty that encompasses all surgical diseases, trauma, and developmental abnormalities affecting the oral cavity, teeth, jawbones, and adjacent tissue. This rapidly progressing academic discipline was largely derived from the specialty of maxillofacial surgery, developed to treat battlefield injuries during World Wars I and II.
The Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, an incorporated foundation, was founded in 1991, approximately 60 years after the establishment of the "Oral Surgery Conference," organized by oral and maxillofacial surgeons and fellows in May 1933. The objectives of the Society are "to promote research in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, to foster the exchange of information among scientists and other professionals, and to contribute to the development of science in Japan."
In recent years, oral and maxillofacial surgery has evolved as an integral part of dental science in Japan. The main goal of medical science is the treatment and prevention of life-threatening diseases. In contrast, the main goals of dental science include halting the progression of incurable dental diseases (caries), and improving oral functions, such as the occlusion, by correcting and prosthetically treating defects, in addition to the main task of treating and preventing life-threatening diseases. In this respect, the goals of dental science and medical science differ substantially.
The Society currently has 9112 members, including 1714 certified specialists. The board-certification system was started in 1973. In 2002 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare established a medical specialist system and approved advertisements by specialists. In 2003 the Society received approval for a specialist system, the first to be officially acknowledged in the field of dentistry. To facilitate understanding among the public and ensure trust in the quality of services provided, a new certification system with stricter criteria and testing for specialist qualification was initiated in April 2008.
The activities of the Society include the promotion of academic research through activities such as holding congresses and journal publication, the encouragement of international exchange to meet global standards, and the provision of aid to developing countries. The Society also supports activities designed to establish a firm basis for dental clinics, which play a vital role in community-based healthcare. The Society is largest among the 21 specialized organizations belonging to the Japanese Association for Dental Science and maintains close contacts with specialized medical and dental societies. The Society is fully committed to ensuring that the public has access to reliable and safe dental healthcare.
The Society prepared this homepage to promote a better understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgical treatment among the public. We hope that you will take the time to look at this site and better understand the organization, activities, and goals of the Society.