All About Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Career 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?
- Treat snoring problems, using laser surgery.
- 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.
- Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions, such as cleft lip and palate and jaw growth problems.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
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Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Skills
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.
Types of Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Jobs
- Surgeon/President
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
- Resident Surgeon
- Owner Oral Surgeon
Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 6,800 jobs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon in 2016. 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. The BLS estimates 300 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Average Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Salary
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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 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 |
What Tools do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons may use on a daily basis:
- DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec
- Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management
How do I Become an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Learn what Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons?

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons work in the following industries:

Similar Careers
Those interested in being an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Amy Perry via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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