Background Information

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty with its origins in dentistry recognized by the Commonwealth Department of Health as a principal surgical specialty. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons deal with the surgical treatment of diseases, disorders and malformations of the mouth, teeth, jaws and associated structures. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are initially trained as dental surgeons and in previous years they commenced specialist surgical training in a hospital environment for a minimum of 5 years. These days newly graduated oral and maxillofacial surgeons are expected to have a medical qualification as well; this has greatly extended the length of training.

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Bowler manages a wide variety of problems relating to the mouth, teeth and facial regions. Dr. Bowler practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery with expertise ranging from the treatment of minor oral surgical conditions, the insertion of dental implants, surgery to correct jaw deformities, the treatment of facial fractures and temporomandibular joint conditions. A wide range of pathological conditions, including salivary gland diseases, oral mucosal diseases and conditions causing facial pain are seen and treated by Dr. Bowler. He also sees cleft palate patients, particularly those requiring the treatment of secondary defects of jaw growth and residual alveolar clefts.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are represented by two specific bodies, the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (R.A.C.D.S), and also the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (A.N.Z.A.O.M.S), to which nearly all oral and maxillofacial surgeons belong.