Dental Fellowship Programs

Every year, the Calgary and Edmonton sections of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery each accept one surgical fellow for advanced training. The Edmonton fellowship specializes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery and the Calgary fellowship specializes in orthognathic surgery.

These fellowships provide candidates with the necessary knowledge for the assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients with congenital and acquired dentofacial deformities and maxillofacial disorders. This program aims to create an evidence-based, hands-on learning environment related to oral maxillofacial surgical care. The fellows will gain extensive exposure to the consultation, diagnostic and treatment planning processes, and surgical correction of dentofacial deformities, maxillofacial pathology and temporomandibular joint disorder.

Program Goals

At the end of the fellowship, the fellow will have received comprehensive training in and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. The fellow will be involved in pre-surgical assessment and planning, surgical treatment and post-operative management of patients with dentofacial deformities and temporomandibular disorders. The fellow will gain experience in both medical and non-surgical management of temporomandibular disorder, dentofacial deformities and facial pain. The fellow will also gain experience in interprofessional collaboration and communication with OMF surgeons, orthodontists, oral pathologists, neurologists, dentists and other surgical disciplines in the Calgary and Edmonton regions.

Edmonton Fellowship 

The fellow will work alongside precepting faculty at various facilities, based on opportunities to observe and assist complex cases intraoperatively in both hospital and outpatient settings, allowing the fellow to individualize their training needs. The chosen fellow will be involved in one consult day a week, one day with the university for teaching research and three to four (3-4) OR days a week. The fellow will participate in TMJ arthroscopic cases, pathology, TMJ reconstructive, orthognathic, trauma and general OMF cases to achieve proficiency in this subspecialty area. The fellow will be expected to perform on-call duties one in four alongside a faculty member of the fellowship.

Each fellow will be expected to work on two original research projects for the duration of their fellowship term, one related to dentofacial deformity correction and the other TMJ reconstruction. The fellow should be prepared to present their research at OMFS meetings and departmental research days. Specific research topics will be communicated between the fellow and faculty prior to the fellowship beginning.

Fellowship Faculty:

Dr. Clayton Davis, director
Dr. Davis is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, fellowship trained in TMJ surgery. He completed his DDS degree at the University of Alberta, followed by a MD, MSc and oral maxillofacial surgery residency at Dalhousie University. He then completed a TMJ surgery fellowship in Miami. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Dentistry Canada and an international member of the American Society of Temporomandibular Joint surgeons. He lectures frequently on TMJ surgery throughout North America and is involved in TMJ education with the TMJ mini residency and Nexus TMJ arthroscopy course, and is also a clinical consultant for Stryker CMF. Dr. Davis is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Alberta School of Dentistry.

Dr. Paul Major, primary education supervisor 
Dr. Major is professor and chair in the University of Alberta School of Dentistry. He is also an orthodontist with expertise in diagnosis and conservative management of temporomandibular disorders. He has conducted extensive research in TMD with more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. He has supervised more than 80 graduate students’ thesis research projects.

Calgary Fellowship 

The fellow will work alongside precepting faculty at various facilities, based on opportunities to observe and assist complex cases intraoperatively in both hospital and outpatient settings, allowing the fellow to individualize their training needs. The chosen fellow will be involved in one to two  (1-2) consult day(s) a week and three to four (3-4) OR days a week containing orthognathic, total joint replacement, pathology, reconstruction surgery, and surgical assistant opportunities. The fellow will participate in upwards of three different cases per day to achieve proficiency in this subspecialty area. The fellow will be expected to perform on call duties one in four alongside a faculty member of the fellowship.

Fellowship Faculty

Dr. Graham Cobb, director 
Dr. Cobb is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, fellowship trained in orthognathic surgery. Currently Dr. Cobb is the section head for Dentistry and Oral Health for the AHS-Calgary Zone. His experience has led to relevant training in complicated oral cavity and facial surgery and reconstruction. Dr. Cobb is a fellow of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Canada in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Cobb maintains clinical appointments in oral and maxillofacial surgery and surgical oncology in the Calgary Zone for national and international OMF graduates.

Dr. Paul Major, primary education supervisor 
Dr. Major is a professor and chair in the University of Alberta School of Dentistry. He is also an orthodontist with expertise in diagnosis and management of dentofacial deformities. He has conducted extensive research in TMD, with more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. He has supervised more than 80 graduate students’ thesis research projects.