Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
The work is surgery on the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, jaws, and face: removing impacted or non-restorable teeth, preparing sites for implants and bone or gum regeneration, treating infections of the mouth, salivary glands, jaws, and neck, and removing tumors or other abnormal growths. General and local anesthetics are administered; emergency cases can include facial lacerations and fractured facial bones. Wisdom teeth are assessed for current or future problems, and treatment is often planned with restorative dentists and orthodontists. Suits people who like complex surgical decisions, close coordination with other dentists, and work that can include urgent facial injuries.
Typical education: Post-Doctoral Training
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$352'220
Median Wage Market Position
$352'220
What you might do
- Remove impacted and badly damaged teeth
- Treat infections of the mouth, jaws, and neck
- Cut away tumors from the mouth and face
- Repair facial cuts and broken facial bones
- Prepare the mouth for implants and rebuild bone
- Give general or local anesthesia before surgery
Skills that matter
- Planning surgery with dentists and orthodontists
- Judging whether wisdom teeth need removal
- Removing tumors and abnormal facial growths
- Treating infections of the jaws and neck
- Repairing facial injuries and fractured bones
- Administering general and local anesthetics
AI & the future of this role
Complex surgery on the face and jaws requires dexterity, judgment under risk, and licensed accountability that automation is unlikely to displace soon. Assistive planning tools may change prep work, while operative responsibility and patient trust still anchor the role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details