What is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is unique within the dental and medical fields due to the training and scope of practice. A rigorous 4 to 6 years of hospital-based surgical and anesthesia training is required after graduation from dental school to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Many oral and maxillofacial surgeons obtain a medical degree during their training. During their residency training, oral surgery residents work in various medical specialties, such as internal medicine, general surgery, anesthesia, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, neurosurgery, and emergency medicine.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat the functional and esthetic conditions in areas related to the teeth, mouth and facial regions.

Scope of Training

• Oral surgery:
  • Dental extractions
  • Dental implants
  • Bone and soft tissue grafts
  • Gingival surgery
• Facial trauma treatment
• Jaw and facial reconstruction
• Surgical correction of jaw and facial deformities
• Temporomandibular joint surgery
• Facial esthetic procedures
• Pathology of the mouth, face and neck
• Outpatient anesthesia