Career Profile: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 6,300 people employed as oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States. The median annual salary is $208,000. Entry level employees earn approximately $78,620 per year and senior employees earn approximately $208,000 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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