Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Since its establishment in 1988, the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Affiliated Stomatology Hospital has consistently adhered to the development philosophy of specialization, standardization, precision, and internationalization. It is now the leading academic discipline in South China, recognized for its comprehensive sub-specialty structure, cutting-edge technical capabilities, and largest clinical capacity in the region. As one of China’s National Key Clinical Specialties and a core department of the National Regional Medical Center for Oral Medicine, the department also serves as a national training base for standardized residency and specialized physician education in oral and maxillofacial surgery. It plays a pivotal role in establishing clinical standards and guiding regional development in oral and maxillofacial surgery across South China.

Under the leadership of successive academic leaders including Professors Huang Hongzhang, Zhang Zhiguang, Zeng Rongsheng, Liao Guiqing, and current chief director Professor Hou Jingsong, the department has established a robust clinical system covering:

• Oral and Head & Neck Oncologic Surgery
• Craniofacial Reconstruction Surgery
• Temporomandibular Joint and Trauma Surgery

With 123 inpatient beds, the department performed over 5,600 surgeries in 2025 and treated more than 130,000 outpatient cases—solidifying its position as the top institution in South China in terms of scale and service volume.

Elite Team of Experts

The department comprises 140 medical and nursing staff, including 22 senior-level physicians, 7 doctoral supervisors, and 13 master’s supervisors. The team features emerging talents such as recipients of the National “Ten Thousand Talents Program” Young Top Talent Award and the National Outstanding Young Physician Award. Over 95% of physicians hold master’s degrees or higher, with more than 50% possessing PhDs. Several faculty members serve as deputy editors or contributors to the nationally standardized textbook Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, reinforcing both educational excellence and clinical authority within the field.

Innovation Driven by Advanced Technology

The department pioneered the integration of digital surgical technologies such as 3D printing, customized implants, and computer-assisted navigation which used in over 70% of procedures, enabling millimeter-level reconstruction of mandibular defects. Microsurgical techniques have pushed the boundaries of soft tissue repair, achieving high success rates in perforator flap transfers. Each year, over 800 microvascular reconstructions are performed, placing the department among the national elite. In oncology, the team performs complex cranio-maxillary resections and reconstructive surgery for radiation-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, with outcomes ranking among the best nationwide. Additionally, the department leads in salivary gland endoscopy and lacrimal gland transplantation for dry eye syndrome: ranking second nationally in procedure volume and developing distinct technical advantages.

Academic Leadership

Over the past decade, the department has published over 200 SCI-indexed papers (including 14 in Chinese Academy of Sciences Q1 journals), authored more than 20 monographs, and secured 10 national patents. It has led the formulation of 26 national clinical guidelines and expert consensuses, including those on functional reconstruction of mandibular defects and clinical management of radiation-induced mandibular osteonecrosis establishing industry-wide standards. Research achievements have earned seven provincial and ministerial-level awards, including the Ministry of Education Science and Technology Progress Second Prize and the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress First Prize. In recent years, it has secured 45 grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, underscoring its strong research foundation.

Training Future Leaders

As a national and Asian-level training center for specialist physicians, the department has developed an innovative three-dimensional talent cultivation model integrating theory, practice, and research. Its hybrid online-offline course on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery was recognized as a provincial-level "First-Class Course." Annually, the department trains over 30 postgraduate students (PhD and Master’s) and mentors more than 100 residents and specialists in advanced training programs, serving regions across South China, Central China, Northwest China, and Southeast Asia. Through a mentorship model led by senior professors, supported by annual case volumes exceeding 600 orthognathic surgeries and 5,600 specialized procedures, the department sets a benchmark for clinical teaching excellence.

Optimized Patient Care Ecosystem

The department implements the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol, integrating nutritional support, wound care, and speech rehabilitation to reduce postoperative recovery time by 30%. For patients with advanced oral cancer, individualized swallowing training combined with maxillofacial reconstruction significantly improves quality of life—achieving a 92% improvement rate. A multidisciplinary team MDT-driven approach ensures precise, comprehensive care from minimally invasive tooth extraction to radical cranio-maxillary tumor resection.

Vision for Global Excellence

Looking ahead, the department will deepen specialization through dedicated disease centers, advance digital surgery and bioactive material research, and explore novel integrated treatment pathways involving temporomandibular joint disorders, orthodontics, and orthognathic surgery. Leveraging its role as the Southern Regional Hub of the National Oral Health Center’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Alliance, the department aims to expand technological dissemination and standard-setting efforts: making a significant contribution to building a world-class medical center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.