Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

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.

From people doing the work

Every day brings a mix of complex surgical cases, from wisdom teeth extractions to reconstructive jaw surgery. It's demanding, requiring intense focus and precision, but the reward of improving a patient's quality of life is. You're constantly learning, adapting to new technologies, and collaborating with a dedicated team to achieve the best outcomes.

Drawn from AAOMS, JOMS, OMS Forum

Attribution: Composite

Composite · Synthesised from AAOMS, JOMS, OMS Forum

A day in the life of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
95% Team / 5% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
Very High
Travel
Minimal
Schedule flexibility
Rigid
Remote work
On-site Only
Typical work hours
40-60
Stress level
High

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons salary, education and outlook at a glance

Median salary
$232,870
Entry-level
$151,365
Senior
$360,948
Growth by 2033
+4.1%
Demand
Stable
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
138%
Typical student debt
Very High

Skills you need as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Hard skills

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Biology

Soft skills

  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking

Technical complexity: Moderate

Tools of the trade

Core tools

  • Surgical Instruments (Hardware): Performing surgical procedures with precision and safety.
  • Cone Beam CT (CBCT) Software (Software): Enabling detailed 3D imaging for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
  • Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems (Software): Managing patient information, medical history, and treatment plans efficiently.

Commonly used

  • Local Anesthetics (Standard): Providing effective pain management and patient comfort during surgical interventions.
  • Surgical Lasers (Hardware): Facilitating precise tissue cutting, ablation, and coagulation with minimal invasiveness.
  • Dental Implants (Hardware): Restoring missing teeth and supporting dental prostheses for improved oral function and aesthetics.

Specialist tools

  • 3D Printing for Surgical Guides (Hardware): Creating custom surgical guides for enhanced accuracy and predictability in complex procedures.

How to become Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Minimum education
Post-Doctoral Training
Licensing
Yes
Years to mid-career
4-8
Years to senior
10-15
Career switching
Hard

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

  • General Dentist: Often, oral and maxillofacial surgeons begin their careers as general dentists before specializing.
  • Dental Resident: Individuals typically complete a dental residency program before pursuing oral and maxillofacial surgery.
  • Medical Doctor: Some oral and maxillofacial surgeons may have a medical degree in addition to a dental degree, providing a broader medical foundation.

Where you can go from here

  • Prosthodontist: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons may specialize further in prosthodontics, focusing on dental prostheses.
  • Periodontist: Some surgeons may transition to periodontics, specializing in the treatment of gum disease.
  • Plastic Surgeon: With additional training, oral and maxillofacial surgeons can pivot to plastic surgery, particularly facial plastic surgery.
  • Academic Researcher: Experienced surgeons may move into academic roles, conducting research and teaching future generations of oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Typical progression

  1. Surgical Assistants
  2. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  3. or Prosthodontists

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons job outlook and future demand

Automation probability
Very Low
AI disruption risk
Low
Demand trend
Stable

Job satisfaction as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Overall satisfaction
7.5/10
Meaning
9/10
Work-life balance
5.5/10
Prestige
9/10
Social perception
Very High

Where practitioners gather

Professional organisations

Podcasts and media

Online communities

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