Who is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

‍Oral and maxillofacial surgeon is someone who specialises in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and injuries of the mouth, jaw, face, and oral and maxillofacial region. If you think that this sounds a lot like dentist, you are right. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are essentially more than a dentist. They have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting these regions of the body. Most specialists complete either an internship or residency program to become board-certified in their field.

Maxillofacial surgery is a special type of dentistry. It involves operations to correct diseases, injuries and defects of your face, jaw or mouth. Maxillofacial surgeons are advanced specialists who diagnose and treat problems with: Bones and tissues of your jaw and lower face (zygoma area).

Who is this Article For?

This article is for patients who want to understand what an oral and maxillofacial surgeon does and when they may need to consult one. This blog explains that an oral and maxillofacial surgeon diagnoses and treats diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaw, face, and oral-maxillofacial region.

What does an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon do?

The daily responsibilities of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can vary significantly from one person to the next. Depending on their specialty and the setting in which they work. However, there are a number of general themes that can inform the daily life of an OMFS.

1. Diagnosing and Treating Dental Diseases: As a dentist, the single most important task you’ll perform is the diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases. While many people associate oral and maxillofacial surgeons with dental problems, most are actually involved in treating diseases and injuries to the jaws, face, and oral region, such as cleft palates, facial trauma, tumors, or cysts.
2. Oral Surgery: While most OMFS focus on diagnosis and treatment, some are trained to perform surgery. As with other specialties, the type of surgery performed by an OMFS varies by specialty. For example, oral surgeons often focus on the removal of cancers and other lesions that affect the oral cavity.
3. Dental Education: Many OMFS work as educators, teaching future practitioners in medical or dental schools.

How to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

If you are interested in a career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. You will first need to earn a degree in dentistry. After you’ve acquired a bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete a dental school program. There are a handful of OMFS programs in the United States. Only about half of these programs accept students each year. Once you’ve completed general dentistry training, you will need to complete an OMFS-specific residency or an OMFS-focused internship. The length of these programs will vary based on your specific training. Generally, you can expect to spend anywhere from 2-6 years in training.

Job prospects for Oral Surgeon

The job outlook for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is generally positive, with a projected job growth of 6% between 2016 and 2026. This is slower than the average growth rate for most occupations, but it still means that there will be plenty of job opportunities for new OMFS graduates. As with any occupation, there are some factors that can affect the job outlook for OMFS, including the location in which you work and your specific specialty. Overall, however, there are plenty of job opportunities for OMFS in the United States.

Since an Oral Surgeon is a one among the primary doctor’s list, Oral Surgeons are in huge demand. Those who love the teaching profession can work as a lecturer at universities and colleges pursuing Oral Surgery and those who love to keep their life always busy can work both as lecturer and Surgeon.

Certification for OMFS

As with most other medical specialties, oral and maxillofacial surgeons must earn certification in order to practice. To become board-certified, you will need to complete an OMFS residency program and pass several exams. The first exam is the Comprehensive Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Board Exam. This exam is offered once per year, usually in the fall, and must be taken in the United States.

After passing this exam, you must complete one year of clinical practice and then take the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Certification Maintenance Exam. In order to maintain your certification, you will need to complete 80 hours of continuing education per year. This can be in any area, so long as it is relevant to OMFS.

Conclusion

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dentists who specialize in treating disease and injury to the mouth, jaw, face, and oral region. Although the majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons work in a dental office, some also work in an outpatient surgical center or a hospital. If you’re interested in a career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, you will first need to earn a degree in dentistry. After you’ve acquired a bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete a dental school program. While there are a handful of OMFS programs in the United States, only about half of these programs accept students each year. Once you’ve completed general dentistry training, you will need to complete an OMFS-specific residency or an OMFS-focused internship. This will generally take 2-6 years to complete.

FAQs

1. What does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon do?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon diagnoses and treats conditions related to the mouth, jaw, face, facial bones, and surrounding structures. Their work may include oral surgery, jaw surgery, facial trauma care, cyst or tumour treatment, wisdom tooth removal, and complex dental implant planning.

2. When should I consult an oral and maxillofacial surgeon?

You may need to consult an oral and maxillofacial surgeon if you have jaw pain, facial injury, impacted wisdom teeth, jaw deformity, oral cysts, tumours, facial swelling, difficulty opening the mouth, or complex dental implant needs.

3. Is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon different from a dentist?

Yes, a dentist usually manages general dental care such as cavities, gum care, cleaning, fillings, and routine treatment. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon has additional surgical training to manage more complex conditions of the mouth, jaw, and face.

4. Can an oral and maxillofacial surgeon place dental implants?

Yes, oral and maxillofacial surgeons often manage complex dental implant cases, especially when there is bone loss, full-mouth rehabilitation, zygomatic implants, facial bone concerns, or surgical planning involved.

5. Are oral and maxillofacial surgeries painful?

Most procedures are performed under local anaesthesia, sedation, or other suitable anaesthesia options depending on the case. Patients may feel some swelling or discomfort after surgery, but this is usually managed with medicines and post-treatment care instructions.

6. What should I expect during a consultation?

During consultation, the surgeon may examine your mouth, jaw, face, bite, medical history, and X-rays or scans. Based on the diagnosis, they will explain the condition, treatment options, risks, recovery, and expected outcome.