Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Career Description

Duties and Responsibilities

Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeons are dentists who have undergone continuing studies in surgery for diseases or illnesses concerned with injuries or defects in the face, head, neck or jaws in the maxillofacial regions in the head. Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon duties include diagnosis, surgery and treatment of diseases, injuries or defects involving the restoration of normal function or the aesthetic or reconstructive aspect of a patient. Some types of surgery performed are apicoectomy, TMJ disorder, corrective jaw surgery, oral pathology, facial implants, dental implants and bone grafts.

Online colleges offering programs for Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeons

Work Environment

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons typically work in private practice or in firms with other member of the dental profession. Some can be found working for the government or in the military. They spend most of the time with patients either in their offices or in small rooms within their clinics.

Employment Opportunities

There are many Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon opportunities for those who wish to pursue this career. They can practice through clinics or in hospitals performing surgery. They are highly specialized medical personnel and are surgeons that can also practice as dentists.

How much does an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon make - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Salary and Wages

Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeons earn as much as other surgeons with other specialties. Commanding great salaries in the hundred of thousands of dollars. They may be highly specialized dentist or physicians who have gone continuing studies to reach their levels as surgeons. Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon salary ranges may differ with respect to the numbers of years in practice. Those who have less than a year in practice earn around $140,000 a year. Those with one to four years experience earn an Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon salary range around $180,000 compared to those with five to nine years experience at the $200,000 range. Oral or maxillofacial surgeons with ten to nineteen years experience earn $220,000 per annum and those with twenty years or more experience earn around $250,000 a year.

How to become a Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Educational and Training

An Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon degree and continuing education with a four year residency in dental or facial surgery is required to be a maxillofacial or oral surgeon. Those with a Medical degree or physicians who wish to specialize in this field are also required to undergo residency and continuing education. A typical study to become a Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon requires a year of undergraduate study specializing in science. A four year dental study, culminating in a Degree in Dentistry will complete the Oral or Maxillofacial Surgeon qualifications. Further four to six year residency specializing in dental or facial surgery.

Common Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon courses in college revolve around the sciences. These Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon courses may include human anatomy, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and specific classes involving the study of the neck, head, and dental anatomy.

You can find information concerning online Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon degrees and jump start your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon career by checking out the online colleges and degrees below.