All dentists and dental specialties, including oral surgeons, orthodontists, pediatric dentists, periodontists, and more, must complete dental school. After four years of dental study, they earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree. General dentists can begin practicing immediately following dental school. Oral surgeons must complete dental school and also complete a residency program, which is an additional 4–6 years of training.
These extra years of training provide oral surgeons with hands-on surgical experience in a hospital setting. Oral surgeons learn how to manage patients with a variety of oral health needs and are trained to administer all forms of anesthesia or sedation. This extra training is what sets oral and maxillofacial surgeons apart from dentists.
Following residency training, an oral surgeon can choose to specialize in an area, such as orofacial pain, oral pathology, orthognathic surgery, and many others. Many surgeons begin practicing following their residency, while others pursue additional training or internships before opening or joining a practice.
With these many years of training and education, oral surgeons are the most qualified dental professionals to handle conditions of the mouth and face. Many people will require some type of oral surgery in life, whether it is to have wisdom teeth taken out or to restore a missing tooth with a dental implant. For all of your oral surgery needs, you can trust our highly skilled and board-certified surgeons.
