Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 6,300 people employed as oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States. The median annual salary is $208,000. Entry level employees earn approximately $78,620 per year and senior employees earn approximately $208,000 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Administer general and local anesthetics.
• 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.
• Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions, such as cleft lip and palate and jaw growth problems.
• Perform minor cosmetic procedures, such as chin and cheekbone enhancements.
• Perform minor facial rejuvenation procedures, including the use of Botox and laser technology.
• Treat snoring problems, using laser surgery.
• Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
• Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
• Restore form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissues from other parts of the body to reconstruct the jaws and face.

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