Health Sciences

Master of Dental Surgery in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

The Master of Dental Surgery in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a specialist postgraduate programme that trains dental surgeons to master the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of oral and maxillofacial diseases and related orofacial problems. The programme produces specialist practitioners with advanced clinical skills and a sound scientific foundation for teaching, research, and independent specialist practice.

Core areas of study include oral and maxillofacial surgery techniques, dentoalveolar surgery, maxillofacial trauma management, orthognathic surgery, oral pathology and oncology, temporomandibular joint disorders, facial reconstructive surgery, cleft lip and palate surgery, maxillofacial radiology, anaesthesia and pain control, implantology, and research methodology. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and extensive clinical practice.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through its Department of Dental Sciences in the School of Dental Sciences. UoN is the primary and longest-established dental training institution in Kenya, with the OMFS programme running since 2011. The programme is delivered full-time at the UoN Dental Hospital and affiliated hospitals.

Students develop advanced competencies in oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, patient diagnosis and treatment planning, trauma management, reconstructive surgery, anaesthesia administration, and research. The programme combines coursework, extensive clinical duties, and original research leading to a dissertation, ensuring graduates meet international specialist standards.

The programme runs for a minimum of five and a maximum of ten academic years of full-time training. Coursework, clinical duties, and research are integrated throughout, with the research project starting in the second year and examined in the final year. The programme is designed for qualified dental surgeons seeking specialist training.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons in hospitals, dental surgeons in private specialist practice, academic faculty in dental schools, researchers in oral health, and specialist advisors to government and international health organisations.

Skills Required

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Techniques
Dentoalveolar Surgery
Maxillofacial Trauma Management
Orthognathic Surgery
Oral Pathology and Oncology
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Maxillofacial Radiology
Anaesthesia and Pain Control in Oral Surgery
Dental Implantology

Key Subjects

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Techniques
Dentoalveolar Surgery
Maxillofacial Trauma Management
Orthognathic Surgery
Oral Pathology and Oncology
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Maxillofacial Radiology
Anaesthesia and Pain Control
Research Methodology in Dental Sciences

Certifications

KMPDC Specialist Registration in Oral Surgery
IAOMS Fellowship

Specializations

Maxillofacial Trauma Surgery

Focuses on management of facial trauma including fractures of the mandible, maxilla, zygoma, and orbital bones, with emphasis on surgical repair and reconstruction.

Orthognathic Surgery

Covers surgical correction of dentofacial deformities, including surgical planning, orthodontic-surgical coordination, and correction of jaw discrepancies.

Oral Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery

Examines oral cancer management, tumour resection, and facial reconstructive surgery including microvascular free flap reconstruction.

Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery

Focuses on surgical management of cleft lip and palate, including primary repair, secondary procedures, and multidisciplinary cleft care.

Temporomandibular Joint Surgery

Covers diagnosis and surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorders, including arthroscopy and joint replacement.

Dental Implantology

Examines dental implant surgery, including implant placement, bone grafting, sinus lifts, and prosthetic rehabilitation with implants.

Maxillofacial Radiology

Covers advanced imaging techniques for maxillofacial diagnosis including CBCT, MRI, and ultrasound in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Paediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Focuses on oral and maxillofacial surgery in children, including management of developmental anomalies, paediatric trauma, and congenital conditions.

Duration: 5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 382,000
Private, up to: Ksh 0
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Techniques
Dentoalveolar Surgery
Maxillofacial Trauma Management
Orthognathic Surgery
Oral Pathology and Oncology
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Maxillofacial Radiology
Anaesthesia and Pain Control
Research Methodology in Dental Sciences

Modules

10 in the programme

Advanced Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers advanced oral and maxillofacial surgery techniques including dentoalveolar surgery, surgical principles, wound healing, and pre-surgical assessment.
Oral Pathology and Oncology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines oral pathology, oral cancer, benign and malignant tumours of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region, and principles of oncological surgery.
Maxillofacial Radiology and Imaging
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers advanced imaging techniques for maxillofacial diagnosis including CBCT, MRI, CT, ultrasound, and interpretation of maxillofacial radiographs.
Anaesthesia and Pain Control in Oral Surgery
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines local and general anaesthesia for oral surgery, sedation techniques, pain management, and management of medical emergencies in dental surgery.
Maxillofacial Trauma Management
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers management of facial trauma including fractures of mandible, maxilla, zygoma, and orbital bones, with emphasis on surgical repair and reconstruction.
Orthognathic Surgery
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines surgical correction of dentofacial deformities, surgical planning, orthodontic-surgical coordination, and correction of jaw discrepancies.
Facial Reconstructive Surgery
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers facial reconstructive surgery techniques including bone grafting, soft tissue reconstruction, microvascular free flaps, and management of facial defects.
Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines surgical management of cleft lip and palate, including primary repair, secondary procedures, and multidisciplinary cleft care protocols.
Research Methodology in Dental Sciences
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods, biostatistics, research ethics, and research design for conducting original research in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Research Dissertation
Year 5Semester 212 creditsCore
Original research dissertation on an oral and maxillofacial surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and specialist clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Maxillofacial Trauma Surgery
Focuses on management of facial trauma including fractures of the mandible, maxilla, zygoma, and orbital bones, with emphasis on surgical repair and reconstruction.
Orthognathic Surgery
Covers surgical correction of dentofacial deformities, including surgical planning, orthodontic-surgical coordination, and correction of jaw discrepancies.
Oral Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery
Examines oral cancer management, tumour resection, and facial reconstructive surgery including microvascular free flap reconstruction.
Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Focuses on surgical management of cleft lip and palate, including primary repair, secondary procedures, and multidisciplinary cleft care.
Temporomandibular Joint Surgery
Covers diagnosis and surgical management of temporomandibular joint disorders, including arthroscopy and joint replacement.
Dental Implantology
Examines dental implant surgery, including implant placement, bone grafting, sinus lifts, and prosthetic rehabilitation with implants.
Maxillofacial Radiology
Covers advanced imaging techniques for maxillofacial diagnosis including CBCT, MRI, and ultrasound in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Paediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Focuses on oral and maxillofacial surgery in children, including management of developmental anomalies, paediatric trauma, and congenital conditions.

A day as a student

A typical day involves early morning ward rounds at the UoN Dental Hospital or affiliated hospitals, reviewing patients scheduled for surgery. Students attend lectures on oral and maxillofacial surgery techniques, oral pathology, or maxillofacial radiology. The majority of the day is spent in clinical duties, assisting in or performing surgical procedures under consultant supervision, including dentoalveolar surgery, trauma management, or orthognathic surgery. Students participate in multidisciplinary case discussions with orthodontists, oncologists, and plastic surgeons for complex cases. Theatre sessions provide hands-on surgical training in major maxillofacial procedures. Research time is dedicated to the dissertation project, which starts in the second year. On-call duties expose students to emergency maxillofacial trauma management. Teaching opportunities allow senior students to instruct undergraduate dental students in clinical skills.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme produces highly sought-after specialists with a critical shortage of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Kenya and East Africa.
UoN is the premier and longest-established dental training institution in Kenya, with the OMFS programme running since 2011.
Programme meets international specialist standards, enabling graduates to practice and teach at the highest levels.
Graduates have excellent earning potential as specialist surgeons in private practice and hospitals.

Against it

Five-year full-time programme requires a significant time commitment, delaying entry into specialist practice.
Total programme cost of KES 1,740,000 is substantial, requiring significant financial investment or sponsorship.
Programme is only offered at UoN, limiting geographic access and creating competition for limited training slots.
Intensive clinical duties and on-call requirements make the programme demanding, requiring significant personal sacrifice.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public332k to 382k

332k at University of Nairobi (Year 2+)382k at University of Nairobi (Year 1)

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN Y1 382K, Y2+ 332K/yr (dental.uonbi.ac.ke). No private provider.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. The Kenyan government may sponsor dental officers for specialist training through the Ministry of Health. UoN offers limited internal financial aid for postgraduate students.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Government Specialist Training Sponsorship
University of Nairobi Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Government Specialist Training Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 1,740,000Kenyan
Government-employed dental officers sponsored by the Ministry of Health for specialist training in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
UoN Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000
UoN postgraduate students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is full-time with September intake. Applicants must apply through the UoN online portal, submitting certified copies of BDS certificate, transcripts, CV, and KCSE certificate. The programme takes a minimum of five and maximum of ten academic years.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
CATs, clinical case presentations, surgical skills assessments, literature reviews, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Clinical Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Continuous clinical assessment of surgical skills, patient management, case selection, and surgical outcomes through supervised clinical duties and procedure logs.
Final Examination
Examination30% of the mark
End-of-year examination covering oral surgery theory, pathology, radiology, and clinical scenarios, including written papers, oral examinations, and clinical case assessments.
Research Dissertation
Research100% of the mark
Original research dissertation on an oral and maxillofacial surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and specialist knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and regulated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). The University of Nairobi offers the programme through its School of Dental Sciences, Department of Dental Sciences. UoN is a CUE-accredited public university and the primary dental training institution in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi offers the programme through its School of Dental Sciences. UoN is a CUE-accredited public university.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)
Professional registrationRequired
KMPDC regulates dental practice in Kenya and provides specialist registration for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Graduates must register with KMPDC as specialists to practise.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 1,200,000
Works as a consultant surgeon in hospitals, performing complex oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures including trauma surgery, orthognathic surgery, and oncological surgery.
Specialist Private Practitioner
High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,500,000
Establishes private specialist oral surgery practice, providing specialist surgical services to referred patients from general dentists and medical practitioners.
Dental School Faculty
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 600,000
Teaches oral and maxillofacial surgery in dental schools, combining academic instruction with clinical supervision of postgraduate and undergraduate dental students.
Oral Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts research on oral and maxillofacial surgery topics, oral health, and surgical outcomes for research institutions, universities, or international health organisations.
Hospital Dental Surgeon
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides specialist oral surgery services in hospital dental departments, managing complex cases referred from general dental and medical practitioners.
Maxillofacial Trauma Surgeon
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 700,000
Specialises in maxillofacial trauma management in trauma centres and hospitals, providing emergency and definitive surgical management of facial injuries.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeons in hospitals, specialist private practice, dental school faculty, and oral health research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

DICOM Imaging Software
SoftwarePrimary
Medical imaging standard and software for viewing, storing, and analysing CBCT, CT, and MRI images for maxillofacial diagnosis and surgical planning.
Surgical Planning Software (Dolphin Imaging)
SoftwarePrimary
Surgical planning software for orthognathic surgery, cephalometric analysis, and treatment simulation in maxillofacial surgery.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for dental research, clinical outcomes analysis, and epidemiological studies in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
EndNote
Software
Reference management software for organising research sources, citations, and bibliographies for the research dissertation.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is just tooth extraction.
The programme covers complex surgical procedures including facial trauma repair, jaw surgery, oral cancer surgery, cleft repair, and facial reconstruction, far beyond routine tooth extraction.
This is a short specialist course.
The programme takes a minimum of five years of full-time training, combining coursework, extensive clinical duties, and a research dissertation.
Oral surgeons only work in dental clinics.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in hospitals, operating theatres, trauma centres, cancer treatment centres, and academic institutions, often as part of multidisciplinary surgical teams.
There is no demand for oral surgeons in Kenya.
There is a critical shortage of oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Kenya and East Africa, with growing demand from hospitals, trauma centres, and cancer treatment facilities.
Any dentist can perform oral surgery.
Complex oral and maxillofacial surgery requires specialist training, with procedures involving facial bones, major trauma, and cancer management beyond general dental practice scope.
The programme is only for those who want to teach.
While graduates can teach in dental schools, the majority work as clinical specialists in hospitals and private specialist practice, with teaching as an optional career path.