Oral and maxillofacial surgery: defining our present; shaping our future.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has 6,800 practicing members and 1,000 resident members and is dedicated to the highest standards of diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. AAOMS has developed guidelines for these surgical procedures in its Parameters of Care and continues to collect current research as the foundation for practice standards in areas such as extraction of third molars and management of bisphosphonate therapy. An ongoing activity is providing anesthesia training for certification of the entire office team. Current research in nanostructures, molecular therapy, and tissue engineering hold the promise for substantial innovations in oral health care.