High School

Since it takes many years of postsecondary training to become a surgeon, you should take a college preparatory curriculum in high school. Take as many science—especially biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology—classes as possible. Speech and English classes will help you to develop your communication skills. Learning a foreign language—such as Spanish—will come in handy if you treat patients who are not fluent in English. If you plan to open your own practice, classes in business, computer science, mathematics, and marketing will be useful.  

Postsecondary Education

Dental schools require applicants to have at least two years of college-level pre-dental education. However, it’s estimated that 85 percent of students entering dental schools have a bachelor’s degree. According to the American Dental Education Association, dental schools often selected candidates for admission who possess:

• Two semesters (three quarters) of biology with lab
• Two semesters (three quarters) of general chemistry with lab
• Two semesters (three quarters) of organic chemistry with lab
• Two semesters (three quarters) of physics with lab.

Some schools also require additional courses, such as English composition and upper-level biology courses, including microbiology, biochemistry, and anatomy and physiology.

All dental schools approved by the American Dental Association (ADO) require applicants to pass the Dental Admissions Test, which gauges a student’s prospects of success or failure in dental school. You can learn more about the test at http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test.

Dental school typically last four years, and generally the degree of doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) is granted upon graduation, although some schools give the degree of doctor of dental medicine (D.D.M. or D.M.D.).

Those who are planning to become oral and maxillofacial surgeons must complete a postgraduate residency that typically takes four to six years, and which may result in candidates earning a joint medical degree. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) says that “residencies are rigorous. They require many dedicated hours in surgery, on rounds, in the clinic and in lectures. Residents frequently work long hours and are on call in the emergency room for maxillofacial trauma cases.” After they complete their residency, some oral and maxillofacial surgeons participate in fellowships or postdoctoral degree programs to expand their knowledge and skills in a particular area of interest.

The AAOMS offers a list of accredited advanced training programs in oral and maxillofacial surgery at https://www.aaoms.org/education-research/education-training/accredited-advanced-education-program-in-oms.

Other Education or Training

The AAOMS, ADO, International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and other professional dental associations offer workshops, webinars, seminars, and other learning opportunities that help members keep their skills up to date. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

Dentists must be licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To qualify for a license in most states, a candidate must graduate from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and pass written and practical examinations. Candidates may fulfill the written part of the exam by passing the National Board Dental Examinations. Individual states or regional testing agencies give the written or practical examinations. Approximately 45 states grant licenses to dentists from other states based on their credentials. Dentists who intend to practice in a specialty area must be licensed or certified in about 20 states.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons can obtain certification through the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Candidates must pass two examinations: a computer-based Qualifying Exam that seeks to test competency in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and an Oral Certifying Exam that’s designed to test their knowledge and judgment in the field. Visit https://www.aboms.org/become-certified for more information.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must complete dental school and a postgraduate residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery that typically lasts four to six years.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need excellent manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and color vision in order to work with precision on an extremely small scale. Having top-notch manual dexterity is so important in this field that the Dental Admission Test contains a section that specifically tests this skill. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also need strong communication and interpersonal skills because they often collaborate with other dental professionals such as restorative dentists and orthodontists to develop treatment plans. They also need to be good communicators in order to explain complex medical procedures and conditions to patients. Empathy and good listening skills also come in handy. Other important traits include strong problem-solving skills, the ability to perform well under pressure, leadership ability, and strong organizational and time-management skills.