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

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Core skills

Complex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingActive LearningMonitoring

Knowledge areas

Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychology

Technology & tools

Development environment softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareMedical softwareOperating system software

Representative tasks

Administer general and local anesthetics.Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatmEvaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occEvaluate and treat problems related to the temperomandibular joint (TMJ).

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

7 alternate job titles map to this occupation.

SurgeonOral SurgeonOral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS)Maxillofacial SurgeonDental SurgeonDoctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

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