Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Did You Know:*
- About 3 out of 4 dentists are solo practitioners.
- Dentists must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical examinations; competition for admission to dental school is keen.
- Faster than average employment growth is projected.
- Job prospects should be good, reflecting the need to replace the large number of dentists expected to retire.
Industry Areas
- Offices of Dentists
- Offices of Physicians
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Day-to-Day Tasks*
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
Overall Kind of Work*
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth and tissues in the mouth, along with giving advice and administering care to help prevent future problems. They provide instruction on diet, brushin...
Work Environment*
Civilian
Most dentists are solo practitioners, meaning that they own their own businesses and work alone or with a small staff. Some dentists have partners, and a few work for other dentists as associate d...
Military
Dentists work in hospitals and dental clinics on land and aboard ships.
Workweek Breakdown
The hours worked per week by people currently pursuing this career.
- 5.06% (0-20 Hours)
- 24.62% (21-34 Hours)
- 20.93% (35-39 Hours)
- 37.57% (40 Hours)
- 4.38% (41-49 Hours)
- 7.43% (Over 50 Hours)
This data also pertains to Dentists (29-1020)
Type of Work
The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.
Data: 
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Things: 
Skills at a Glance
The levels of different skills helpful in this career.
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Workplace at a Glance
The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.
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Business Breakdown
The different sectors people in this career currently work in.
- 27.16% (Private For-Profit)
- 2.64% (Private Not For-Profit)
- 2.69% (State and Local Govt)
- 2.71% (Federal Government)
- 64.80% (Self-Employed)
This data also pertains to Dentists
Military Breakdown
The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.
224 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in the military