How to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Official title: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Also called: DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident, Oral Surgeon, Surgeon
Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.
Main tasks
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
- Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
How to become one
Dentists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by state, although candidates usually must graduate from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams.
Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 23 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $352,220 a year The middle half earn $204,610 to $428,710.
- About 5,600 people work in this job now, and about 5,900 are projected by 2035. (+5.6%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Dentists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by state, although candidates usually must graduate from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams.
How much does an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $352,220 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $204,610 to $428,710.
Is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 5,600 to about 5,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.