Specialist titles used in clinical correspondence: a UK survey of oral and maxillofacial surgery consultants

We explored how oral and maxillofacial (OMF) consultants describe themselves in their correspondence. We did a telephone survey of OMF surgeons’ secretaries and compiled data on the specialist titles used. Data were available for 290 consultants and 19 different titles were identified. A total of 190 (66%) consultants used the title OMF surgeon alone and a further 22 (8%) combined it with the name of a subspecialty. The remaining 78 (27%) used 11 alternative titles. Of those surveyed, 212 (73%) continue to use the specialty title of OMF surgeon with or without the name of a subspecialty comprising a readily identifiable group of specialists.