Develop specialist expertise in Oral Surgery through advanced surgical training, complex case management, and evidence-based patient care.
Why study postgraduate Oral Surgery?
Oral Surgery is the specialist area of dentistry focused on the diagnosis and surgical management of conditions affecting the oral and dentoalveolar tissues.
At postgraduate level, Oral Surgery at Otago combines intensive clinical training, academic study, and research to prepare qualified dentists for specialist practice. Through supervised clinical training and study, you’ll develop expertise in diagnosis, treatment planning, dentoalveolar surgery, implantology, pain management, and the surgical management of complex clinical presentations.
Training integrates related disciplines including oral medicine, oral pathology, radiology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery, supporting a broad specialist perspective and interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
Otago's Oral Surgery doctoral programme meets the educational requirement to apply for registration as a specialist oral surgeon in New Zealand and Australia.
Career opportunities
Postgraduate study in Oral Surgery prepares you for specialist clinical and academic pathways, including:
- Specialist oral surgery practice – working in private or referral settings
- Hospital-based oral surgical care – contributing to oral surgical or trauma care services
- Multidisciplinary oral healthcare – applying specialist expertise in dental and healthcare teams
- Clinical academic roles – teaching, supervising, and researching within university settings
- Oral surgery research – contributing to evidence-based practice and related clinical sciences
What it’s like to study at this level
A postgraduate in Oral Surgery is clinical, research-focused, and academically rigorous.
You’ll combine supervised surgical practice, seminars, case presentations, journal clubs, problem-based learning, and independent research to develop specialist clinical judgement and procedural expertise. Training includes exposure to complex oral surgical cases and interdisciplinary collaboration with specialists across oral medicine, oral pathology, radiology, and related disciplines.
Research is built into your study. In the doctoral programme this culminates in a supervised thesis that strengthens critical evaluation, scientific communication, and your ability to contribute to evidence-based specialist practice.
This is for you if ...
This programme is designed for qualified dentists seeking specialist training in Oral Surgery, with strong clinical foundations, manual dexterity, sound judgement, and an interest in surgical care, complex intervention, and evidence-based practice.
Advanced surgical care and training
Oral Surgery combines clinical judgement, technical precision, and advanced surgical expertise to manage conditions affecting the oral and dentoalveolar tissues. As a specialist oral surgeon, you’ll develop confidence in diagnosis, treatment planning, and surgical decision-making, often within interdisciplinary care settings.
At Otago, advanced study develops these capabilities through supervised clinical training, research engagement, and learning within New Zealand’s leading Faculty of Dentistry. The faculty has state-of-the-art facilities for gaining experience in performing surgical procedures under local anaesthesia, intravenous sedation, and general anaesthesia.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (PGDipClinDent)
A one-year programme (two-years with part-time study) employing clinical and academic teaching to emphasise the full nature of dental practice
Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (DClinDent)
An advanced postgraduate degree that prepares graduates to become registered specialists in their chosen discipline
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
ORSU papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORSU701 | 2026, 2027 | Oral Surgery | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 23 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (15 February 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
| ORSU702 | 2026, 2027 | Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Orofacial Pain | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 23 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (15 February 2027 - 12 November 2027) |
More information
For more information about Oral Surgery at Otago, visit the Faculty of Dentistry website:
Oral Surgery at the Faculty of Dentistry.
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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