What it is
Oral & maxillofacial surgeons operate on the mouth, jaws, face, and neck — extracting impacted teeth, placing implants, correcting jaw deformities, treating facial trauma, and managing oral cancers. It's the surgical dental specialty, bridging dentistry and medicine.
What you do
They perform surgery on the face and jaws — from wisdom teeth and implants to reconstructive and trauma surgery — often in hospitals and surgical centers.
Training path & length
4–6 year CODA-accredited residency after the DDS/DMD (some programs also grant an MD).
Fellowship subspecialties
Focus areas include dentoalveolar surgery, implants, orthognathic surgery, trauma, pathology/oncology, and cosmetic facial surgery.
Pay & job outlook
Dentists are well-compensated. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $179,210 for dentists (May 2024), growing about 4% from 2024 to 2034. Dental specialists — including oral & maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, and prosthodontists — are among the highest-paid, at or above the BLS's top published figure ($239,200+).
Oral surgeons are among the highest-paid dental specialists (BLS top tier, $239,200+).
How to get there
Become a dentist first: earn a DDS or DMD, then complete this CODA-accredited residency and board certification to practice the specialty.
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Key facts
- Residency4–6 years (some grant an MD)
- TreatsMouth, jaws, face, neck (surgical)
- ScopeImplants, orthognathic, trauma, oncology
- PayTop-tier dental ($239,200+)
- EntryDDS or DMD