Occupation · SOC 29-1022
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.
Median wage
$239,200
$82,960–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,330
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
2 mapped
Core skills
Judgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingMonitoringActive ListeningActive LearningSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationWritingScienceTime ManagementSystems AnalysisService OrientationOperations AnalysisSystems EvaluationOperation and ControlLearning StrategiesInstructingQuality Control AnalysisPersuasionOperations MonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesNegotiationMathematicsEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment MaintenanceProgrammingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyEducation and TrainingChemistryAdministration and ManagementPersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsLaw and GovernmentSales and MarketingEconomics and AccountingAdministrativeMechanicalPublic Safety and SecurityPhysicsCommunications and MediaSociology and AnthropologyDesignEngineering and TechnologyTelecommunicationsForeign LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyProduction and ProcessingHistory and ArcheologyGeographyTransportationBuilding and ConstructionFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
AdaApteryx Imaging SuiteDSN Software Oral Surgery-ExecDecisionBase TiME for OMSDentalEyeDolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin ManagementGendex Dental Systems VixWin PROKodak Dental Systems Kodak Cosmetic Imaging ModuleOperating system softwarePlanmeca Oy DimaxisSirona SIDEXIS XG
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAnalyzing Data or InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsTraining and Teaching OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsWorking with ComputersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkThinking CreativelyScheduling Work and ActivitiesControlling Machines and ProcessesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersSelling or Influencing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Local anesthetic agents and dosing protocols — identify and apply under direct attending supervision in a hospital-based oral surgery clinic.Radiographic imaging of third molar positioning — interpret basic findings and document observations under senior surgeon oversight in a residency setting.Surgical instrument sets for dentoalveolar procedures — select, prepare, and handle under direct supervision in a credentialed operating room environment.Impacted tooth extraction techniques — assist with and perform straightforward cases under close attending guidance in an oral surgery residency program.Oral and facial infection presentations — recognize clinical signs, collect cultures, and initiate prescribed treatment protocols under supervising physician direction.Interdisciplinary treatment planning documentation — contribute structured case summaries to collaborative meetings with restorative dentists and orthodontists under mentored guidance.Soft-tissue laceration repair fundamentals — perform basic intra-oral and facial laceration closure under direct supervision in a hospital emergency or oral surgery setting.Pre-operative patient assessment checklists — complete and review medical histories, allergy profiles, and risk stratifications prior to elective oral surgery procedures.Medical software platforms for surgical scheduling and record-keeping — navigate and enter patient data accurately within a structured hospital or group-practice system.Sterile field protocols and infection-control standards — maintain consistently throughout all operative procedures in accordance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
developing
General and local anesthesia administration — plan dosing, monitor patient responses, and adjust parameters with limited oversight during outpatient oral surgery procedures.Third molar positional analysis — evaluate radiographic and CBCT data independently to forecast eruption complications and recommend extraction timing in a private or clinic setting.Routine impacted and non-restorable tooth removal — perform full surgical sequences with minimal supervision, adapting technique to varying anatomical presentations.Pre-implant site preparation surgery — execute alveolar bone contouring and soft-tissue management procedures in coordination with restorative partners at a multi-specialty dental center.Oral cavity and salivary gland infection management — diagnose, drain, and prescribe antibiotic regimens for moderate-severity cases, escalating complex presentations appropriately.Collaborative treatment plans with orthodontists and prosthodontists — develop and present structured proposals that integrate surgical and restorative sequencing in interdisciplinary case conferences.Facial trauma triage and initial stabilization — assess fractured facial bones and lacerations in an emergency department or on-call environment and execute first-line surgical interventions.Soft-tissue biopsy and minor lesion excision — perform and submit specimens for pathological analysis, correlating histological results with clinical management in an outpatient surgical suite.Intraoperative monitoring data — interpret physiologic parameters and adjust anesthetic or surgical approach in real time to maintain patient safety during moderate-complexity procedures.Patient and family communication regarding surgical risks — explain procedures, informed-consent elements, and post-operative expectations clearly in a culturally sensitive clinical encounter.
proficient
General anesthesia and IV sedation protocols — design, administer, and manage independently across a full range of complex outpatient and inpatient oral and maxillofacial cases.Comprehensive third molar risk stratification — integrate CBCT volumetric data, nerve proximity mapping, and patient comorbidities to formulate individualized extraction or monitoring strategies.Implant-site bone and gingival regeneration procedures — execute guided bone regeneration, sinus augmentation, and soft-tissue grafting autonomously in a hospital-affiliated surgical suite.Removal of oral and facial tumors and abnormal growths — perform wide local excision and margin assessment using advanced surgical instrumentation, coordinating with oncology teams as needed.Complex facial fracture reconstruction — manage multi-segment mandibular, midface, and orbital fractures through open reduction and internal fixation in a Level I or II trauma center environment.Jaw pathology and salivary gland disease — diagnose and surgically treat cysts, obstructions, and neoplasms through the full continuum of care in a tertiary-care maxillofacial practice.Orthognathic surgery planning and execution — synthesize cephalometric, digital model, and clinical data to perform corrective jaw osteotomies in collaboration with orthodontic partners.Intraoperative complication recognition and management — identify and resolve hemorrhage, nerve injury risk, or anesthetic adverse events autonomously during high-acuity surgical encounters.Graphics and photo imaging software for surgical simulation — utilize 3-D virtual planning tools to model osteotomy cuts, implant placement, and facial reconstruction outcomes prior to surgery.Evidence-based protocol development — critically appraise current literature and translate findings into updated clinical guidelines governing anesthesia, infection control, and surgical technique within one's practice.
advanced
Departmental surgical standards and quality-improvement initiatives — design, implement, and evaluate institution-wide protocols that elevate patient safety and outcomes across an oral and maxillofacial surgery division.Interdisciplinary care models — architect formal collaboration frameworks between oral surgery, oncology, orthodontics, and reconstructive teams at a health system or academic medical center level.Complex craniofacial and orthognathic surgical programs — lead the clinical development and expansion of advanced reconstructive services, attracting referral networks and establishing center-of-excellence designation.Residency and fellowship training curricula — develop competency-based educational programs that progressively build surgical skill, clinical judgment, and professional identity in postgraduate oral surgery trainees.Organizational resource allocation and capital planning — direct procurement of surgical technology, imaging systems, and facility infrastructure aligned with strategic growth of a maxillofacial surgery enterprise.Research agenda and grant portfolio — lead multi-site clinical trials or translational studies investigating novel anesthesia protocols, implant materials, or tumor resection techniques in an academic surgical setting.Credentialing, privileging, and peer-review governance — chair or actively contribute to hospital medical staff committees that evaluate surgeon competence and maintain standards across the surgical department.Health system and payer relations — negotiate clinical contracts, define bundled surgical care pathways, and represent oral surgery service-line interests in executive-level institutional planning discussions.Mentorship and succession planning — identify, sponsor, and systematically develop emerging oral surgeons into leadership roles within the organization and the broader professional community.National and international professional society leadership — represent the discipline on policy, standard-setting, and advocacy bodies, shaping regulatory and reimbursement frameworks that affect oral and maxillofacial surgery practice.
Also known as
6 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Dental SurgeonDoctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)Maxillofacial SurgeonOral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS)Oral SurgeonSurgeon