A dental surgeon is a type of oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who specializes in the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. They are licensed dental professionals who have completed additional education and training to perform surgery on the teeth, gums, jaw, and other related structures in the head and neck. They perform a wide range of procedures, such as:
- Dental implant surgery
- Wisdom tooth extraction
- Bone grafting
- Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery)
- Treatment of oral cancer
- Facial trauma surgery
- Sleep apnea surgery
- Corrective jaw surgery
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder surgery
A dental surgeon must complete a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by four years of dental school, and then a four or six-year oral and maxillofacial surgery residency program. They are also required to pass both written and oral board exams to become licensed to practice.
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