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Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

SOC 29-1022.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgical practice—from residency-level dentoalveolar and anesthesia fundamentals through autonomous management of complex trauma, oncologic resection, implant reconstruction, and orthognathic surgery, to executive leadership of academic departments and health system surgical programs.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Local anesthetic agents and dosing protocols — identify and apply under direct attending supervision in a hospital-based oral surgery clinic.
  2. Radiographic imaging of third molar positioning — interpret basic findings and document observations under senior surgeon oversight in a residency setting.
  3. Surgical instrument sets for dentoalveolar procedures — select, prepare, and handle under direct supervision in a credentialed operating room environment.
  4. Impacted tooth extraction techniques — assist with and perform straightforward cases under close attending guidance in an oral surgery residency program.
  5. Oral and facial infection presentations — recognize clinical signs, collect cultures, and initiate prescribed treatment protocols under supervising physician direction.
  6. Interdisciplinary treatment planning documentation — contribute structured case summaries to collaborative meetings with restorative dentists and orthodontists under mentored guidance.
  7. Soft-tissue laceration repair fundamentals — perform basic intra-oral and facial laceration closure under direct supervision in a hospital emergency or oral surgery setting.
  8. Pre-operative patient assessment checklists — complete and review medical histories, allergy profiles, and risk stratifications prior to elective oral surgery procedures.
  9. Medical software platforms for surgical scheduling and record-keeping — navigate and enter patient data accurately within a structured hospital or group-practice system.
  10. Sterile field protocols and infection-control standards — maintain consistently throughout all operative procedures in accordance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. General and local anesthesia administration — plan dosing, monitor patient responses, and adjust parameters with limited oversight during outpatient oral surgery procedures.
  2. Third molar positional analysis — evaluate radiographic and CBCT data independently to forecast eruption complications and recommend extraction timing in a private or clinic setting.
  3. Routine impacted and non-restorable tooth removal — perform full surgical sequences with minimal supervision, adapting technique to varying anatomical presentations.
  4. Pre-implant site preparation surgery — execute alveolar bone contouring and soft-tissue management procedures in coordination with restorative partners at a multi-specialty dental center.
  5. Oral cavity and salivary gland infection management — diagnose, drain, and prescribe antibiotic regimens for moderate-severity cases, escalating complex presentations appropriately.
  6. Collaborative treatment plans with orthodontists and prosthodontists — develop and present structured proposals that integrate surgical and restorative sequencing in interdisciplinary case conferences.
  7. Facial trauma triage and initial stabilization — assess fractured facial bones and lacerations in an emergency department or on-call environment and execute first-line surgical interventions.
  8. Soft-tissue biopsy and minor lesion excision — perform and submit specimens for pathological analysis, correlating histological results with clinical management in an outpatient surgical suite.
  9. Intraoperative monitoring data — interpret physiologic parameters and adjust anesthetic or surgical approach in real time to maintain patient safety during moderate-complexity procedures.
  10. Patient and family communication regarding surgical risks — explain procedures, informed-consent elements, and post-operative expectations clearly in a culturally sensitive clinical encounter.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. General anesthesia and IV sedation protocols — design, administer, and manage independently across a full range of complex outpatient and inpatient oral and maxillofacial cases.
  2. Comprehensive third molar risk stratification — integrate CBCT volumetric data, nerve proximity mapping, and patient comorbidities to formulate individualized extraction or monitoring strategies.
  3. Implant-site bone and gingival regeneration procedures — execute guided bone regeneration, sinus augmentation, and soft-tissue grafting autonomously in a hospital-affiliated surgical suite.
  4. Removal of oral and facial tumors and abnormal growths — perform wide local excision and margin assessment using advanced surgical instrumentation, coordinating with oncology teams as needed.
  5. Complex facial fracture reconstruction — manage multi-segment mandibular, midface, and orbital fractures through open reduction and internal fixation in a Level I or II trauma center environment.
  6. Jaw pathology and salivary gland disease — diagnose and surgically treat cysts, obstructions, and neoplasms through the full continuum of care in a tertiary-care maxillofacial practice.
  7. Orthognathic surgery planning and execution — synthesize cephalometric, digital model, and clinical data to perform corrective jaw osteotomies in collaboration with orthodontic partners.
  8. Intraoperative complication recognition and management — identify and resolve hemorrhage, nerve injury risk, or anesthetic adverse events autonomously during high-acuity surgical encounters.
  9. Graphics and photo imaging software for surgical simulation — utilize 3-D virtual planning tools to model osteotomy cuts, implant placement, and facial reconstruction outcomes prior to surgery.
  10. Evidence-based protocol development — critically appraise current literature and translate findings into updated clinical guidelines governing anesthesia, infection control, and surgical technique within one's practice.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental surgical standards and quality-improvement initiatives — design, implement, and evaluate institution-wide protocols that elevate patient safety and outcomes across an oral and maxillofacial surgery division.
  2. Interdisciplinary care models — architect formal collaboration frameworks between oral surgery, oncology, orthodontics, and reconstructive teams at a health system or academic medical center level.
  3. Complex craniofacial and orthognathic surgical programs — lead the clinical development and expansion of advanced reconstructive services, attracting referral networks and establishing center-of-excellence designation.
  4. Residency and fellowship training curricula — develop competency-based educational programs that progressively build surgical skill, clinical judgment, and professional identity in postgraduate oral surgery trainees.
  5. Organizational resource allocation and capital planning — direct procurement of surgical technology, imaging systems, and facility infrastructure aligned with strategic growth of a maxillofacial surgery enterprise.
  6. Research agenda and grant portfolio — lead multi-site clinical trials or translational studies investigating novel anesthesia protocols, implant materials, or tumor resection techniques in an academic surgical setting.
  7. Credentialing, privileging, and peer-review governance — chair or actively contribute to hospital medical staff committees that evaluate surgeon competence and maintain standards across the surgical department.
  8. Health system and payer relations — negotiate clinical contracts, define bundled surgical care pathways, and represent oral surgery service-line interests in executive-level institutional planning discussions.
  9. Mentorship and succession planning — identify, sponsor, and systematically develop emerging oral surgeons into leadership roles within the organization and the broader professional community.
  10. National and international professional society leadership — represent the discipline on policy, standard-setting, and advocacy bodies, shaping regulatory and reimbursement frameworks that affect oral and maxillofacial surgery practice.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors56 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Dental Surgeon · Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) · Maxillofacial Surgeon · Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) · Oral Surgeon · Surgeon
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Complex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingActive LearningMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationScienceWritingTime ManagementService OrientationSystems AnalysisOperations AnalysisSystems Evaluation
Knowledge domains
Medicine and DentistryBiologyEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyEducation and TrainingChemistryAdministration and ManagementPersonnel and Human ResourcesTherapy and CounselingMathematics
Abilities
Arm-Hand SteadinessNear VisionFinger DexterityOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityControl PrecisionInformation Ordering
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessStress ToleranceSelf-ControlIntellectual Curiosity
Technology
Development environment softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareMedical softwareOperating system software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Administer general and local anesthetics.
  2. Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
  3. Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
  4. Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
  5. Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
  6. Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
  7. Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
  8. Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
CIP education codes
51.050760.0101

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.