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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dental Surgeon

💰 $120,000 - $350,000

HealthcareDentistryOral Surgery

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires an experienced Dental Surgeon (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon) to join a patient-centered clinical team. The ideal candidate will lead advanced surgical care including dentoalveolar surgery, dental implants, bone grafting, complex extractions (including impacted third molars), management of facial trauma, sedation and anesthesia administration, and comprehensive pre- and post-operative patient management. This role requires strong clinical judgment, adherence to evidence-based protocols, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (prosthodontics, periodontics, ENT, radiology) while maintaining excellent patient communication and documentation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • General Dentist with surgical experience
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency graduate
  • Hospital dental surgeon or surgical registrar

Advancement To:

  • Chief of Oral Surgery / Clinical Director
  • Surgical Department Lead or Head of Maxillofacial Unit
  • Private practice owner or partner
  • Academic lead / Professor of Oral Surgery

Lateral Moves:

  • Specialist in Implantology
  • Periodontics with surgical focus
  • Clinical researcher in oral surgery or implantology
  • Hospital-based dental anesthesiology

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive pre-operative assessments including full dental and medical history review, systemic risk assessment, airway evaluation, medication reconciliation, and informed consent tailored to oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.
  • Interpret diagnostic imaging (panoramic radiographs, CBCT/CT scans, periapical radiographs) to formulate precise surgical treatment plans for extractions, implant placement, bone augmentation, and pathology evaluation.
  • Perform dentoalveolar surgeries such as complex extractions, impacted third molar removals, apicoectomies, alveoloplasty, and management of cysts and soft tissue lesions with attention to atraumatic technique and preservation of structures.
  • Plan and execute dental implant surgeries including single-tooth implants, full-arch restorations, immediate placement/loading protocols, guided surgery workflows, and integration of digital treatment planning technologies.
  • Perform bone grafting procedures (autograft, allograft, xenograft), sinus lifts (lateral and transcrestal), ridge augmentation, and soft tissue grafting to optimize implant site development and restore oral function and esthetics.
  • Administer and monitor local anesthesia, conscious sedation (oral or IV sedation) and, where credentialed, general anesthesia protocols; manage perioperative sedation safety, airway management, and emergency preparedness.
  • Manage facial trauma and emergent oral surgical conditions, including laceration repair, jaw fractures (in collaboration with OMFS teams), and acute infection drainage with appropriate antibiotic and analgesic management.
  • Diagnose and surgically manage benign oral pathologies and refer for biopsy and histopathology when indicated; coordinate care with oral medicine and pathology services for suspected malignancy.
  • Provide comprehensive postoperative care including wound assessment, suture management, pain control, infection prevention, complication recognition and management (e.g., dry socket, nerve injury), and tailored patient discharge instructions.
  • Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation in electronic health records (EHRs) for all consultations, operative reports, anesthesia records, and postoperative follow-ups to support continuity of care and medico-legal compliance.
  • Lead multidisciplinary case discussions with prosthodontists, periodontists, orthodontists, ENT specialists, and radiologists to coordinate complex rehabilitative treatment plans and staged surgical care.
  • Supervise, mentor, and train junior surgeons, dental residents, oral surgery assistants, and dental hygienists; oversee clinical competency assessments and support continuing professional development.
  • Ensure compliance with infection control standards, sterilization processes, radiation safety, occupational health protocols, and local regulatory requirements including documentation and audit readiness.
  • Manage surgical scheduling, patient flow, theater utilization and prioritize cases based on clinical urgency while maintaining efficient clinic throughput and high standards of patient experience.
  • Implement and participate in quality improvement initiatives, morbidity and mortality reviews, surgical outcomes tracking and patient satisfaction monitoring to continuously improve clinical care.
  • Prescribe and manage perioperative medications safely including antibiotics, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory agents; monitor for drug interactions and patient allergies.
  • Coordinate referrals to medical specialists (cardiology, endocrinology, hematology) for patients with comorbidities that affect surgical planning or anesthesia risk, adjusting treatment plans accordingly.
  • Maintain, inspect and ensure the calibration and readiness of surgical instruments, implant systems, sterilization equipment, and imaging devices; liaise with vendors for equipment maintenance and upgrades.
  • Participate in on-call rotations to provide urgent oral surgery care and triage, ensure appropriate handovers, and maintain robust emergency protocols for out-of-hours situations.
  • Lead patient education initiatives and pre-op counseling sessions that set expectations for procedure outcomes, recovery timelines, and home care to reduce readmissions and enhance compliance.
  • Manage coding, billing documentation and claims for surgical procedures and sedation services in accordance with payer requirements and practice policies; collaborate with administrative staff to resolve billing discrepancies.
  • Engage in community outreach, patient screening events, and professional networking to grow practice awareness and access to specialty oral surgical services.
  • Participate in clinical research, case reporting, and publication activity or present at conferences to stay current with evidence-based practices and contribute to the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
  • Foster a culture of safety, respect, and empathy across the clinical team, ensuring patient-centered care, privacy, and culturally competent communication.

Secondary Functions

  • Support clinical governance by contributing to policy development, clinical protocols and standard operating procedures for the oral surgery department.
  • Assist with procurement decisions for surgical instruments, implant systems and digital imaging/software tools by providing clinical input and cost-benefit analysis.
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of staff training programs on infection control, emergency response, and sedation safety.
  • Participate in practice marketing and patient education content creation (e.g., blogs, FAQ sheets, social media posts) to improve patient understanding of surgical options and drive clinic visibility.
  • Support clinical audits, accreditation processes and compliance documentation to meet regulatory and payer standards.
  • Collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects, clinical trials or case series and mentor residents in scholarly activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Oral and maxillofacial surgical techniques for complex extractions and impacted tooth management.
  • Dental implantology: planning, guided surgery, implant placement, and restoration coordination.
  • Bone augmentation techniques: sinus lift, onlay grafts, ridge augmentation and graft material selection.
  • Administration and monitoring of local anesthesia, IV sedation and familiarity with general anesthesia protocols.
  • CBCT and panoramic radiograph interpretation for surgical planning and risk assessment.
  • Minor oral pathology diagnosis, biopsy techniques and postoperative pathology coordination.
  • Suturing, hemostasis, wound closure techniques and management of soft tissue flaps.
  • Emergency airway management, basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) familiarity in surgical settings.
  • Proficiency with electronic health records (EHRs), operative note documentation, and clinical coding for surgical procedures.
  • Infection control, sterilization standards and radiation safety compliance.
  • Pain management protocols including multimodal analgesia and safe opioid prescribing practices.
  • Surgical instrument handling, sterilization workflows and familiarity with implant systems and surgical kits.
  • Use of digital planning tools and guided surgery software, intraoral scanners and digital workflow integration.

(At least 10 technical skills listed above.)

Soft Skills

  • Clear, compassionate patient communication and ability to explain complex surgical plans in plain language.
  • High-level clinical judgment and decisive problem-solving under pressure.
  • Manual dexterity and fine motor skills required for precise surgical procedures.
  • Team leadership and mentorship skills to manage operating room staff and trainees.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance clinic, surgery, on-call and administrative duties.
  • Emotional resilience and stress tolerance in emergency or high-acuity clinical scenarios.
  • Attention to detail for surgical accuracy, documentation and compliance.
  • Empathy and cultural sensitivity when working with diverse patient populations.
  • Continuous learning mindset and commitment to professional development and best practices.
  • Collaboration and multidisciplinary teamwork to coordinate comprehensive patient care.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) plus completion of an accredited Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency or equivalent surgical training.

Preferred Education:

  • Board certification in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or Fellowship in Implantology.
  • Advanced training/certification in IV sedation, dental anesthesia, or a Master's/PhD in a relevant clinical or research field.
  • Formal certifications in digital dentistry workflows, CBCT imaging, or guided implantology.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Dentistry (DDS/DMD)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Implant Dentistry / Implantology
  • Dental Anesthesiology
  • Oral Pathology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–12+ years of post-residency clinical experience; many practices seek 3–5 years for associate roles and 5–10+ years for senior or lead positions.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of hands-on surgical experience with a robust case mix including implants, bone grafting and complex extractions.
  • Documented experience with IV sedation/anesthesia protocols and emergency management.
  • Prior experience supervising residents or junior clinicians, participating in multidisciplinary case planning, and contributing to quality improvement initiatives.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with digital imaging (CBCT), guided surgery workflows and contemporary implant systems.
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