What Do Oral Surgeons Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Oral Surgeons 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. They also administer general and local anesthetics.

Other tasks include:

• 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.

We asked Oral Surgeons how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Oral Surgeons administer general and local anesthetics. They remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.

A typical day for an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will also include:

• 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.
• Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
• Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
• Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.

We asked some Oral Surgeons a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	94% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	75% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	94% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	74% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	85% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Oral Surgeons also provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones. They may also remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Oral Surgeons Restore form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissues from other parts of the body to reconstruct the jaws and face. They might also Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.

In addition, they Perform minor facial rejuvenation procedures, including the use of Botox and laser technology.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.

To some Oral Surgeons, it is also their responsibility to Perform minor cosmetic procedures, such as chin and cheekbone enhancements.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/dentists.htm

http://www.ada.org/en/coda

http://www.adea.org/

http://www.aaoms.org/