Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Oral Surgeon

🎯 Role Definition

Experienced Oral Surgeon (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon) delivering high-quality surgical and perioperative dental care across the full scope of dentoalveolar, implantologic, trauma, orthognathic, and temporomandibular procedures. The role requires advanced clinical judgment, mastery of surgical techniques (including IV sedation and general anesthesia), interpretation of dental and maxillofacial imaging (CBCT, panoramic, CT), interdisciplinary coordination with ENT, plastic surgery and prosthodontics teams, strong patient communication, and contributions to practice leadership, quality improvement, and education.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency (PGY completion) or fellowship-trained OMFS graduate
DMD/DDS with advanced surgical training or dental implantology fellowship
Hospital-based OMFS attending or surgical residency with credentialing in maxillofacial procedures

Advancement To:

Senior/Lead Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon or Division Chief
Medical Director or Surgical Services Director in an ASC/hospital setting
Private practice owner or partner with expanded practice lines (implant center, facial trauma unit)
Academic Professor, Program Director, or Clinical Research Lead in OMFS

Lateral Moves:

Facial Trauma Surgeon (hospital trauma service)
Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction Specialist
Dental Implantology or Prosthetic Rehabilitation Specialist
TMJ and Orofacial Pain Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis and evidence-based treatment planning for patients with dentoalveolar disease, impacted third molars, dental infections, cysts, benign oral pathology and facial trauma, using clinical exam, CBCT, panoramic radiography and medical history to develop safe, effective surgical plans optimized for patient outcomes and SEO-relevant keywords (oral surgeon, wisdom tooth removal, dental implant surgery).
Perform a full spectrum of oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures including simple and surgical tooth extractions, complex impacted third molar removal, alveoloplasty, apicoectomy, cyst enucleation, and biopsy with documented adherence to sterile technique and surgical safety checklists.
Plan and execute dental implantology cases including single-tooth implants, multiple implant-supported restorations, immediate load protocols, guided implant surgery (surgical guides), sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, and autogenous or allograft bone grafting with documented outcomes and radiographic follow-up.
Manage facial traumas and maxillofacial fractures (mandibular, zygomatic, orbital floor) including reduction and fixation (open reduction and internal fixation), soft tissue repair, and coordination with emergency medicine and trauma services to ensure continuity of care.
Diagnose and manage temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and orofacial pain requiring surgical intervention, arthrocentesis, arthroscopy, or open joint procedures, and collaborate with pain specialists and prosthodontists for comprehensive rehabilitation.
Deliver safe perioperative anesthesia care: administer and monitor local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, moderate sedation, IV sedation and general anesthesia in compliance with ASA guidelines and facility-specific sedation protocols, including airway management and emergency response readiness.
Triage and treat dental and maxillofacial emergencies (severe odontogenic infections, hemorrhage, airway compromise) including hospital admission coordination, incision and drainage, IV antibiotic therapy planning, and post-op inpatient management when indicated.
Lead preoperative assessment and informed consent processes, ensuring patient comprehension of surgical indications, alternatives, risks, benefits, complications, recovery expectations and follow-up care; document consent and patient education materials in the EMR.
Interpret advanced imaging (CBCT, CT, panoramic radiographs) to analyze bone volume, anatomical variations, pathology and surgical approaches; integrate radiology findings into surgical planning and implant placement precision.
Perform orthognathic surgery planning in collaboration with orthodontists and multidisciplinary teams: pre-surgical simulation, surgical splint fabrication oversight, intraoperative maxillomandibular fixation, and postoperative orthodontic integration.
Supervise and mentor surgical residents, fellows, dental students, and nursing staff; provide structured teaching in clinic, operative theater, morbidity & mortality reviews, and simulation labs to support residency and continuing education goals.
Establish and maintain procedural and post-operative clinical protocols for infection control, instrument sterilization, surgical site preparation and antibiotic stewardship to meet regulatory and accreditation standards (OSHA, CDC, JCAHO).
Maintain robust clinical documentation and coding accuracy for procedures (CPT codes) and diagnoses (ICD-10), collaborate with billing teams to optimize reimbursement for surgical and anesthesia services while ensuring compliance with payer policies.
Coordinate with prosthodontists, restorative dentists, ENT and plastic surgery colleagues for staged reconstructive care, prosthetic rehabilitation and multidisciplinary case conferences to maximize functional and esthetic patient outcomes.
Manage perioperative pain and complication prevention strategies including multimodal analgesia, nerve block techniques, postoperative prescription protocols, and clear escalation pathways for complications such as infection or nerve injury.
Perform office-based surgical procedures and supervise ambulatory surgery center (ASC) or hospital OR sessions including scheduling, staff assignments, equipment readiness (osteosynthesis plates, drills, implant kits), and inventory oversight.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives: track surgical outcomes, complication rates (nerve injury, infection, implant failure), patient satisfaction scores, and implement evidence-based process improvements to elevate clinical performance.
Maintain emergency preparedness and act as on-call oral surgery consultant providing timely clinical decision-making for hospital consults, emergency department referrals and inpatient surgical needs including airway management consultation.
Lead patient referral management and community outreach to referring dentists, physicians, and specialists: provide clear referral protocols, timely consult reports, and educational sessions to strengthen referral networks and grow practice volume.
Conduct preoperative medical risk assessment and liaise with primary care, cardiology, or anesthesiology for optimization of medically complex patients including anticoagulation management, diabetes control, and airway risk stratification.
Oversee surgical photography, lab communications (implant labs, prosthetic labs), and digital workflow integration (intraoral scanning, digital planning software) to streamline case planning, surgical guide fabrication, and prosthetic coordination.
Ensure compliance with HIPAA, patient privacy practices, and institutional policies while maintaining accurate and timely electronic medical record (EMR) entries, operative notes and discharge instructions.
Drive practice development initiatives including clinical marketing content, SEO-optimized service pages (oral surgeon, dental implants, wisdom tooth extraction, facial trauma repair), patient education resources and online reputation management.
Engage in clinical research, case reporting, and publication efforts to advance the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery; present at conferences and contribute to institutional research protocols when applicable.
Provide leadership in multidisciplinary tumor boards or oncology clinics for the evaluation and surgical management of oral and maxillofacial pathology including benign and malignant lesions requiring resection and reconstruction.

Secondary Functions

Support practice operations by participating in scheduling optimization, throughput improvement, supply chain coordination for surgical consumables, and cost-control measures that improve surgical efficiency and patient access.
Contribute to clinical governance, peer review, morbidity and mortality conferences, and credentialing committees to ensure high standards of clinical practice and continuous professional development.
Assist with onboarding and competency assessment of new clinical staff, surgical assistants, and anesthesia providers to maintain consistent, high-quality perioperative care.
Lead or participate in community education initiatives, patient seminars, and referring doctor meetings to educate about indications for oral surgery, implant therapy, and postoperative care.
Participate in continuing education and maintenance of certification activities, keeping current with evolving surgical techniques, implant systems, sedation best practices and evidence-based guidelines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mastery of oral and maxillofacial surgical techniques: complex extractions, impacted third molar removal, apicoectomy, enucleation of cysts, and soft tissue management.
Comprehensive dental implantology skills: two-stage and immediate implant placement, guided surgery, sinus augmentation, ridge augmentation, and implant-supported prosthetic planning.
Proficiency in administration and monitoring of IV sedation and general anesthesia for outpatient and hospital-based procedures; familiarity with ASA sedation guidelines and airway management.
Advanced radiology interpretation: CBCT, panoramic radiographs, maxillofacial CT, and use of digital planning software for surgical guide design and virtual surgical planning (VSP).
Trauma management and fixation techniques including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular and midface fractures, miniplate/rigid fixation systems, and soft tissue reconstruction.
Orthognathic surgical planning and intraoperative execution including BSSO, Le Fort osteotomies, and coordination with orthodontic treatment plans.
Clinical pathology recognition and biopsy technique for oral mucosal lesions and coordination with pathology services for histopathologic diagnosis.
EMR documentation and health IT proficiency; accurate CPT/ICD-10 coding for surgical and anesthesia services and understanding of billing/reimbursement processes.
Infection control, sterile technique, and perioperative antibiotic stewardship to minimize surgical site infections and subsequent complications.
Use of surgical instrumentation and technologies: bone drills, fixation systems, piezosurgery, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and implant system proficiency.

Soft Skills

Exceptional patient-centered communication: explaining complex surgical risks, obtaining informed consent, and setting realistic expectations for outcomes and recovery.
Clinical leadership and team management: supervising OR teams, coordinating multidisciplinary care and leading case conferences.
High-level decision-making and triage capability in emergent situations including airway compromise and severe infection.
Empathy, cultural competence, and professionalism when working with diverse patient populations and anxious patients.
Time management, organizational skills and the ability to prioritize high-acuity cases while maintaining clinic productivity.
Teaching and mentoring aptitude for residents, fellows and staff; ability to provide constructive feedback and foster a learning environment.
Problem-solving orientation with continuous improvement mindset; proactive identification of process inefficiencies and quality improvement opportunities.
Resilience and stress management for high-pressure surgical settings, on-call duties and complex case management.
Strong networking and referral development skills to cultivate relationships with referring dentists, physicians and specialists.
Data-driven mindset for tracking clinical outcomes, interpreting performance metrics and contributing to evidence-based practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) plus completion of an accredited Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency program (4–6 years).

Preferred Education:

OMFS residency with board certification (American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or equivalent).
Dual-degree MD (where applicable) or fellowship training in craniomaxillofacial trauma, implantology, TMJ surgery or oncologic/reconstructive surgery.
Advanced training in sedation/anesthesia management and hospital credentialing in ACLS/BLS.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dentistry (DMD/DDS)
Medicine (MD) — optional/advantageous
Anesthesia or Dental Implantology Fellowships

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–10+ years (range captures newly credentialed OMFS attendings through senior surgeons; many roles prefer 2–5 years of independent surgical experience for private practice or ASC leadership).

Preferred:

3–5+ years of documented surgical experience in outpatient and hospital settings, with a robust case log demonstrating complexity in dentoalveolar surgery, implantology, trauma, and orthognathic procedures.
Board certification in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery preferred; prior academic appointment or documented teaching experience is a plus.
Proven track record in practice development, multidisciplinary collaboration and quality improvement initiatives.