Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Also called: Dental Surgeon, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon-Practice Owner

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Varies

estimated salary

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.

  • 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.
  • Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
  • Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
  • Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
  • Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
  • Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
  • Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
  • Restore form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissues from other parts of the body to reconstruct the jaws and face.
  • Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions, such as cleft lip and palate and jaw growth problems.
  • Perform minor cosmetic procedures, such as chin and cheekbone enhancements.
  • Perform minor facial rejuvenation procedures, including the use of Botox and laser technology.
  • Treat snoring problems, using laser surgery.
Work Context
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections — 97% responded "Every day".
  • Physical Proximity — 96% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Telephone — 94% responded "Every day".
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 94% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 94% responded "Every day".
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 94% responded "Very important results".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 93% responded "A lot of freedom".
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Work 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.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Operate on patients to treat conditions.
  • Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
  • Administer anesthetics or sedatives to control pain.
  • Treat dental problems or diseases.
  • Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
  • Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
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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.
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Skills

Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
  • Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Finger Dexterity
  • The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Apteryx Imaging Suite
  • DentalEye
  • Gendex Dental Systems VixWin PRO
  • Kodak Dental Systems Kodak Cosmetic Imaging Module
  • Planmeca Oy Dimaxis
  • Sirona SIDEXIS XG
Medical software
  • DecisionBase TiME for OMS
  • Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management
  • DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec

Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
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