What Are the Duties of a Dental Surgeon?
Dental professionals provide care for patients' dental ailments. Dental surgeons specialize in oral surgery. They comprise the second largest group of dental specialists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, analysts expect job growth for this career to grow faster than average.
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Identification
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Dental surgeons, also called oral and maxillofacial surgeons, treat patients requiring removal of aching wisdom teeth, jaw pain and those with jaw alignment problems. General practice dentists often refer their patients to dental surgeons.
Duties
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These dental specialists repair jaws that have been fractured due to injury. They perform difficult, more complex dental extractions on patients. Dental surgeons also treat and excise tumors in the mouth, jaw, neck and surrounding area. They also biopsy gums with dental diseases and fit patients for dental devices, such as dentures and dental prosthetics.
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Training
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Dental school prepares medical professionals to provide dental care. Dental students must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) for program entrance consideration. Dental school is competitive and lasts four years. Students study anatomy, science and dental techniques. The majority of schools grant graduates the title of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). In addition to general dental studies, dental surgeons receive an additional two to three years of training specifically in oral surgery. They learn to use specialized oral surgery instruments like a scalpel, bone file and forceps.
Pay
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, oral and maxillofacial surgeons held 6,700 jobs in 2008. Dental surgeons commanded mean average wages of $210,710 as of 2008.
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References
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