Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Loading state data...

Loading state data...

  Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Also Called: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), Oral Surgeon, Surgeon, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), Oral Surgeon, Surgeon

What they do

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.

$88,060
Starting Salary (2023)
$#
Median Salary (2023)
5.0%
Projected Job Growth
4,160
Employment (2022)

Typical Tasks

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.
Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Investigative
Studying, Research based work
Realistic
Practical, Physical Work
Social
Working with people

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Attention to Detail
Integrity
Dependability
Self-Control
Concern for Others
Stress Tolerance

What key skills are needed for this job?

Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking

Expected Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Common Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

More Info

What can I do with this major? Logo

Explore 106 major profiles, common career paths and strategies to maximize opportunities.

Visit Site
My Next Move logo

Search career information in detail by keywords, browse by industry, or via your interests.

Visit Site
Career OneStop Logo

Explore career options, find training and education, plan for your job search and find local help and services.

Visit Site
BLS OOH logo

The Occupational Outlook Handbook - browse occupations and resources and explore occupation groups.

Visit Site
O*NET logo

The nation's primary source of occupational information. Complete data and information breakdowns for all careers.

Visit Site