Introduction:

Practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery in Peru is challenging due to the lack of knowledge of health professionals on the role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Objective:

To assess the perception of the role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons among Peruvian physicians, dentists, and medical and dentistry students.

Materials and methods:

Cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study conducted in 2018. The sample consisted of 200 physicians, dentists, and medical and dentistry students from the city of Arequipa, Peru, who were distributed in 4 groups of 50 members each. The questionnaire covered 20 clinical situations and was divided into 5 specific conditions: facial trauma, pathology, reconstructive surgery, oral surgery, and cosmetic and functional surgery. Respondents were asked to indicate the specialist they would refer their patients to for treating each condition (plastic surgeon, otolaryngologist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon and head and neck surgeon).

Results:

90% percent of physicians and medical students had a negative perception of the role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. In contrast, dentists and dentistry students had a positive perception (64% and 58%, respectively).

Conclusions:

Most physicians and medical students have a negative perception of the role of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Consequently, medical schools should give priority to the development of programs and courses that address the importance of the role and work of other health professionals, which will allow better multidisciplinary work, and therefore, the provision of more comprehensive healthcare services.

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