Career Overview
Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.
Also Known As
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS)
- Oral Surgeon
- Surgeon
Alternate Job Titles
- Dental Surgeon
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS)
- Oral Surgeon
- Surgeon
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
- Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Evaluate and treat problems related to the temperomandibular joint (TMJ).
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Near Vision
- Finger Dexterity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Control Precision
- Written Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Tools & Equipment
- Alveolar forceps
- Anesthesia machines
- Anesthetic injectors
- Angled scalpels
- Anterior periotomes
- Apexo elevators
- Apical forceps
- Articulating paper forceps
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Bandage scissors
- Bone calipers
- Bone crushers
- Bone files
- Bone mills
- Bone packers
Work Environment
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Physical Proximity
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $82,960 |
| Median | >$239,200 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 5,330
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Pediatric Surgeons
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: >$239,200
Prosthodontists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
Dentists, General
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $172,790
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.