While general dentists can help assess a patient’s oral health needs, they can’t fix every problem a patient has about their oral health. Fortunately, oral surgeons can help manage and care for a patient’s oral health that needs careful planning. Because of this, oral surgeon jobs are in high demand, and many dental offices need these specialists.
Although patients now have various options when it comes to dental care providers, it can be tricky to know which type of dental professional is best for your current needs. Understanding what oral surgeons can help you make an informed choice for dental care. Here’s everything you need to know about oral surgeons.
Patient’s Guide to Oral Surgeons
What Is an Oral Surgeon?
Oral surgeons are oral health professionals that have completed a hospital-based residency program with a minimum of four years of surgical education and training. In addition to other fields of specialization, they train alongside medical residents and concentrate on general surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine, plastic surgery, and otolaryngology studies. These surgeons are specialists in identifying and treating complex medical disorders in these structures.
Patients often see an oral surgeon for a dental operation that family dentists do not usually perform. An oral surgeon will perform the procedures required to address facial, gums, jaw, and teeth problems. They often perform more complex functions than a general dentist would perform.
Education and Training for Oral Surgeons
Oral surgeons continue their education by completing four to six years of advanced surgical training after completing their bachelor’s degree program and dental doctoral studies. These extra years of training give oral surgeons the ability to provide a wide range of treatment options for patients who have undergone trauma. They can also treat patients with other serious oral health issues that may require targeted surgical treatment for the best care.
The goal of the education and training in this dental specialty is to equip oral surgeons to act as a link between the fields of dentistry and medicine. Most oral surgeons have additional training and certification in all types of anesthesia and sedation, including nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation, in addition to advanced schooling and residency in oral surgery.
What Procedures Do They Perform?
Most people seek a dental surgeon to assist in reconstructing their mouth and face when they have a deformity or have sustained facial trauma due to a medical condition. Removing impacted teeth, bone transplants, face augmentation, and oral birth abnormalities are just a few of these intricate procedures. They also perform the following surgical treatments:
- Treatment of facial injuries
- Cancer diagnosis
- Soft tissue and tooth surgeries
- Cleft lip and palate treatment
- Lip and tongue surgeries
- Dental implant surgery
- Wisdom tooth removal
When Should You See an Oral Surgeon?
If you’re suffering from severe facial trauma, require tooth extraction, or are diagnosed with a disease that affects the face, getting in touch with your oral surgeon is a good solution. You can also contact and make an appointment for a consultation with your surgeon if you’re dealing with various conditions affecting the mouth, throat, head, face, and neck.
Are You Interested in Oral Surgeon Jobs?
Our team at Arthur Marshall can help newly accomplished oral surgeons find stable jobs. We can help improve your employment options with our connections in the field. Give us a call today to get started on your chosen career!
