An oral and maxillofacial specialist is a surgeon who specializes in surgery of the mouth, jaws, face, head and neck. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must attend four years of college, four years of dental school, and have a minimum of four years hospital based residency after receiving their dental doctoral degree. During residency, oral and maxillofacial surgeons receive advanced training in disciplines such as general surgery, plastic surgery, medicine, anesthesia and pathology. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to treat patients in the hospital, outpatient facilities, surgery centers and in private offices.

Some oral and maxillofacial surgeons go on to obtain a medical degree and complete dedicated training in general surgery and other medical surgical specialties during their residency. The practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery includes a variety of procedures, including the removal of impacted teeth, the placement of dental implants, the treatment of traumatic facial injuries, reconstructive oral and facial surgery, surgery for orofacial cancer, TMJ surgery, orthognathic and craniofacial surgery, salivary gland surgery, craniomaxillofacial trauma and facial plastic surgery.