Over the past 60 years the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has evolved into a valid, concise, integral aspect of health care throughout the world. Through new advances in technology, research and education, the health of the world’s population has been improved through the unique application of these talents. An evaluation of these issues through educational and surgical experiences will be discussed in a provocative review of our history and our future.

Reflecting over the past half century we have seen major advances in fracture repair, bone fixation, reconstructive and ablative surgery, cell and recombinant therapy, pharmacology and the use of titanium and titanium alloy to irreversibly change how we treat the maxillofacial invalid.

We now sit at the zenith of the next millennium of advances in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. Clinical case histories will be utilized to construct the past, the present and the remarkable future of our specialty.

The ability to share this information explosion through cyber world technology has allowed the remote access of information by developing countries. Our future will mandate further exploration of the unknown and the sharing of life’s answers to all. We must now truly celebrate a world that is flat keeping in mind that there are no borders on knowledge.