An oral surgeon, also known as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS), is a dental specialist who focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of various conditions and injuries related to the oral and maxillofacial (face and jaw) regions. These professionals have extensive education and training, which typically includes:

1. Dental School: Oral Surgeons complete a bachelor's degree in dentistry with 5 years of dental school to become a dentist. This education includes training in general dentistry.

2. Residency: After dental school, oral surgeons typically undergo several years of surgical residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This intensive training includes hands-on experience in performing a wide range of surgical procedures related to the mouth, face, and jaw.

Oral surgeons provide a wide array of services, including but not limited to:

- Tooth Extractions: They perform extractions of damaged, impacted, or problematic teeth, including wisdom teeth removal.

- Dental Implants: They place dental implants to replace missing teeth and restore oral function and aesthetics.

- Orthognathic Surgery: This involves correcting misaligned jaws through surgical procedures to improve bite function, facial aesthetics, and speech.

- Treatment of Oral Pathologies: They diagnose and treat various oral diseases, infections, and cysts.

- Management of TMJ Disorders: They can address temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders through surgical and non-surgical interventions.

- Facial Trauma: Oral surgeons are often involved in treating facial injuries resulting from accidents, falls, or assaults.

- Cleft Lip and Palate Repair: They perform surgical procedures to repair congenital conditions like cleft lips and palates.

- Facial Reconstructive Surgery: This includes procedures to address facial deformities, facial fractures, and soft tissue injuries.

Oral surgeons work closely with other healthcare professionals, including dentists, orthodontists, physicians, and anaesthetists to provide comprehensive care for their patients. They are trained to administer anaesthesia, ensuring patient comfort and safety during surgical procedures.

If you require oral surgery or have specific oral and maxillofacial concerns, our Dentists may refer you to an oral surgeon for evaluation and treatment, especially for impacted wisdom teeth. Oral surgeons play a crucial role in addressing complex dental and facial conditions and improving patients' oral health and quality of life.