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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Have you ever seen the little children on TV commercials who are born with deformed lips and gums or with growths on their noses and other parts of their faces?  Could you imagine the anxiety they feel when people stare at them or how badly they wish to have those problems corrected just so they could live a "normal" life?  If you truly sympathize for these children, are already considering becoming a doctor, excel in Science, Math, and Health, and wish to have career that is as unique as it is fulfilling and rewarding, then you should seriously consider becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (OMSs) diagnose the problems of and perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects, surgeries to improve function and/or appearance.  They are Physicians who specialize in invasive surgical procedures related to (operating on) the face, mouth, jaws, teeth, gums, neck, and head, including procedures that surgically repair cleft lips and palates and remove impacted teeth.  Their unique, elaborate skill-set also includes installing and performing maintenance on correctional devices, and removing, healing, and correcting problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, and misaligned jaws, respectively.

The duties of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon include but are not limited to:  collaborating with other specialists (Restorative Dentists, Othodontists, etc.) to plan treatment; administering general and local anesthetics; performing surgery on the mouth, jaws, face, head, and neck, to prepare the mouth for dental implants, and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissue; providing emergency treatment of facial injuries (facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, fractured facial bones, etc.); removing impacted, damaged, diseased, and non-restorable teeth; surgically removing tumors, cysts, and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions; restoring form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissue from other body parts to reconstruct the jaws and face; evaluating the position of wisdom teeth to determine the existence of current or (potential) future problems; performing minor cosmetic procedures (chin and cheek-bone enhancements or facial rejuvenation procedures); treating infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck; treating snoring problems and problems affecting the oral mucosa (mouth ulcers and infections); and conducting research and teaching at universities.

High school students interested in becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon benefit from taking Health, Nursing, Nutrition, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus, Biology/Anatomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Physical Science.  Students entering Pre-Dental Bachelor's of Science programs with no previous Dental training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.  Upon completion of undergraduate studies, candidates must earn a 4-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited school of dentistry, complete a 4-year hospital surgical residency, and pass the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) Examination in order to practice medicine as a licensed, credentialed Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.  Licensure is required in all states and by each state.

Functions and sub-specialties of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery include:  Dental Implants (replacing missing teeth); Facial Trauma (repairing routine and complex facial skin lacerations/cuts); Pathologic Conditions (severe infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck and cysts and tumors of the oral and facial regions); Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery (correcting jaw, facial bone, and facial soft tissue problems); Correction of Dentofacial (Bite) Deformities and Birth Defects (surgically reconstructing and realigning the jaws to provide improved biting function and facial appearance, correcting birth defects cleft lip and palate, etc.); Removal of Diseased and Impacted Teeth (removing impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth); and Facial Pain Including Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (diagnosing and treating facial pain disorders).

Millions of children worldwide are born with birth defects (cleft lips and palates and abnormal growths), and because the US is a world leader in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, these children are flown to America to have these surgeries.  And while the employment of an already-limited number of OMSs is expected to grow by 21 over the next decade, it is expected to struggle mightily to keep pace with their ever-growing demand.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
​Median Salary:  $211,770

Salary Range:  ~$168,000 - $252,000+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon have been to attain a Bachelor's of Science degree in Pre-Dentistry, Biology (Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Health Professions, or Medical Technology concentration), Chemistry (Pre-Dentistry concentration), Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, Pre-Medical (Dentistry concentration), or Medical Technology.

All dental schools require applicants to have completed undergraduate work in Physics, Biology, Mathematics, and Inorganic and Organic Chemistry and successfully complete the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) during their junior year.  Dental schools use the DAT, GPA, and recommendations to admit students into their programs.  Majoring in a science, such as Biology, might increase the chances of being accepted, but no specific major is required to enter most dental programs.  Many students volunteer at local hospitals or clinics to gain practical experience in the health professions and to build mentor-mentee relationships with Dentists.

Local Anesthesia, Anatomy, Periodontology, and Radiology are among the required classes in dental schools.  All dental schools include practice where students work with patients in a clinical setting under the supervision of a Licensed Dentist.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Schools of Dentistry and related majors are:  Howard University (Washington, DC); Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee); Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, California); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Maryland); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Virginia); Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina); Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, North Carolina); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia); Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina); Winston Salem State University (Winston Salem, North Carolina); Albany State University (Albany, Georgia); South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Savannah State University (Savannah, Georgia); Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia); Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina); Allen University (Columbia, South Carolina); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Paine College (Augusta, Georgia); Livingstone College (Salisbury, North Carolina); Benedict College (Columbia, South Carolina); Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas); Voorhees College (Denmark, South Carolina); Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia); and Oakwood University (Huntsville, Alabama).
Available Scholarships