Understanding the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery and its influence on referral behaviour among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is a recognized surgical specialty within Saudi Arabia, yet its scope remains inconsistently understood among healthcare professionals, with implications for referral accuracy and appropriate access to care. Aim This study assessed understanding of OMS scope and its influence on referral behaviour. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey of 248 dental and medical professionals across Saudi Arabia (December 2025 to March 2026) evaluated confidence in knowing OMS procedural scope, specialty attribution across 19 clinical scenarios, and referral practices. Results Dental professionals demonstrated significantly higher confidence in OMS procedural scope and higher referral scores than medical professionals (confidence: mean 3.4 vs. 2.9 on a 5-point scale, p = 0.010; referral: mean 3.5 vs. 3.1, p = 0.007; values are means), with significant differences observed in 16 of 19 clinical scenarios. Confidence was lowest in areas of multidisciplinary overlap, including aesthetic facial surgery (22.6%) and surgical management of sleep apnea (22.2%). Common referral barriers included difficulty distinguishing OMS from other dental specialties (40.9%), long waiting times (35.5%), and limited access to specialists (35.0%). Most participants (72.2%) reported a need for greater OMS education during training. Conclusion Academic background was the most consistently associated variable with OMS recognition and referral behaviour among healthcare professionals in Saudi Arabia. Targeted integration of OMS into undergraduate medical education and clearer referral pathways may improve referral accuracy and facilitate timely access to specialist care.