Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons treat diseases, injuries and defects of the head, neck, face, jaws and the tissues of the oral cavity and maxillofacial region. They can administer anesthesia and provide care in an office setting or in a hospital. Oral Surgeons can extract teeth, fix misaligned jaws, treat tumors in the jaw and mouth, and perform dental implant surgery.
Oral Surgeons complete a four year undergraduate degree, a four year dental degree, and finally four years of surgical residency training. Some Oral Surgeons are also medical doctors, having spent an additional two additional years of medical residency training.
After completing school, Oral Surgeons in the United States must become certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Some go on to complete one to two year fellowships in areas such as head and neck cancer, cosmetic facial surgery, and craniofacial surgery and pediatric maxillofacial surgery.