Life As an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon
Occupation Description 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.
Life As an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon: What Do They Do?
- Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Treat snoring problems, using laser surgery.
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What an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Should Know
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Dental Service Chief
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Resident Surgeon
- Surgeon/President
- Surgeon
What Kind of Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 6,800 jobs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 19.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon are Tennessee, South Dakota, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Idaho, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Make?
The typical yearly salary for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is somewhere between $61,570 and $208,000.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons who work in Arizona, California, or Florida, make the highest salaries.
How much do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $208,000 |
California | $264,380 |
Florida | $208,000 |
Indiana | $272,360 |
Iowa | $263,270 |
Kentucky | $188,750 |
Maryland | $276,280 |
Massachusetts | $208,000 |
Michigan | $220,660 |
Missouri | $208,000 |
Nebraska | $266,810 |
New Mexico | $54,120 |
New York | $249,460 |
North Carolina | $208,000 |
Ohio | $208,000 |
Oklahoma | $229,300 |
Oregon | $208,000 |
Pennsylvania | $225,660 |
South Carolina | $256,650 |
Tennessee | $163,220 |
Texas | $181,260 |
Virginia | $260,810 |
Washington | $208,000 |
Wisconsin | $187,400 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons:
- DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec
- Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management
Becoming an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon
What education or degrees do I need to become an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons?

Below are examples of industries where Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons work:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Amy Perry via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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