For those who need oral and maxillofacial surgery, you might wonder about how to find the right oral and maxillofacial surgeon in your area. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) has undergone special training that allows them to diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other issues related to your mouth, jaw, face, and their surrounding areas (such as your neck and sinuses). If you have any concerns about any of these structures within your head or neck region, call an OMS to schedule an appointment. Keep reading to learn more about oral and maxillofacial surgeons!
A Definition
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a surgical specialist who focuses on treating diseases, injuries, defects, and abnormalities of your mouth, jaws, face, head, neck, teeth and gums. Some common conditions treated by an OMS include facial trauma from accidents or fractures; congenital defects such as cleft palate; developmental abnormalities like overbites or underbites; tooth decay or injury due to decay; tumors affecting structures in your face or head like nerves or salivary glands; changes in facial structure due to disease like Bell’s palsy or cancer; temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ); reconstruction of missing parts of bones in your skull after surgery such as after a tumor removal. In addition to performing surgeries, an OMS can also provide preventive care including sealants for children and adults, fluoride treatments for children and adults, nutritional counseling for patients with dry mouth caused by radiation treatment or other factors that affect salivary gland function.
An OMS has completed four years of dental school plus three additional years of training in general surgery followed by two more years of specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This type of specialized training qualifies them to perform both reconstructive procedures as well as cosmetic procedures such as smile makeovers. They are often referred to as dentists because they are licensed dentists with advanced degrees from accredited dental schools but they are trained surgeons with expertise beyond general dentistry.
Job Description
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a dentist who specializes in surgery of facial, oral, nasal, or oropharyngeal structures. An OMS has two possible routes to becoming an oral surgeon. The first route is to complete 4 years of dental school followed by 4 years of residency in general surgery. After that training, one must pass a written examination given by one’s state licensing board before receiving his or her license to practice as an oral surgeon. This route requires approximately 10 years from start to finish. The second route involves 6 years of dental school plus 2 additional years of specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Following completion of these 8 years, one must take and pass a written exam administered by their state licensing board to receive their license to practice as an oral surgeon. This second route takes about 8-9 years from start to finish. Both routes require passing Part I & II National Board Dental Examinations prior to beginning either program described above.
A typical day for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon will vary depending on whether they are in private practice or employed at a hospital setting such as a medical center or university medical center.
Steps to Becoming One
It’s a good idea to talk with dental school graduates who already work in oral surgery to get their perspective. They can help you figure out if it’s a good fit for you and what type of schedule to expect. To become an oral surgeon, you must graduate from dental school and complete a one-year residency in oral or maxillofacial surgery. You will likely need to pass licensing exams by your state, as well as fulfill continuing education requirements on a regular basis throughout your career. Most job openings are usually advertised online.
Career Outlook
Although it can take years of training to become a licensed dentist, a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery can make a far greater impact on patients’ lives. These specialists are one of five general categories of dentists recognized by professional credentialing body American Dental Association (ADA). They are also one of four specialties offered by professional organization Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AOMS), which has more than 8,000 members. It takes between five to seven years for AOMS-certified surgeons to complete all required coursework following dental school graduation. While two years ago only about half of U.S.
Types of Oral Surgery Procedures
Depending on where your dentist falls in terms of specialization, they may be more skilled at performing certain types of oral surgery procedures than others. Below are a few examples: · Orthognathic surgery : Treatment for correcting underbites, overbites, cross bites, etc. · best implant dentist near me: Implanting artificial teeth into your jawbone · Wisdom tooth removal : Surgical removal of wisdom teeth that aren’t erupting properly · Osteotomy : Cutting or moving parts of your jaw to improve its shape and prevent problems from arising after dental implant surgery. · Facial trauma repair : Repairing facial injuries using grafts, plastic surgeries, etc.