What do OMFS surgeons do?

[Med1992]

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So I'm still in undergrad and doing pretty well in my courses, and I recently shadowed a dentist for a long time. It is now something I want to do! I know I'm getting way ahead of myself right now, but I'm curious as to what OMFS surgeons actually do? Looking more into it, it seems like something that I'd enjoy.

But basically, if you specialize in OMFS, can you open up an office and do general dentistry things (things you learned in dental school, like cleanings etc) along with OMFS? Or once you specialize, can you only do OMFS.

And also, what exactly do OMFS do? Do they do pretty much everything like cosmetic facial surgeries, dental implants, cancer, wisdom teeth and other procedures? Or do you have to do a fellowship to do specifics?

Sorry if I sound like a complete noob or if this has even been asked before...I'm just really curious and wanted to see what everyone else has to say about it

 

[aznboi89x]

So I'm still in undergrad and doing pretty well in my courses, and I recently shadowed a dentist for a long time. It is now something I want to do! I know I'm getting way ahead of myself right now, but I'm curious as to what OMFS surgeons actually do? Looking more into it, it seems like something that I'd enjoy.

But basically, if you specialize in OMFS, can you open up an office and do general dentistry things (things you learned in dental school, like cleanings etc) along with OMFS? Or once you specialize, can you only do OMFS.

And also, what exactly do OMFS do? Do they do pretty much everything like cosmetic facial surgeries, dental implants, cancer, wisdom teeth and other procedures? Or do you have to do a fellowship to do specifics?

Sorry if I sound like a complete noob or if this has even been asked before...I'm just really curious and wanted to see what everyone else has to say about it

once you specialize your scope of practice is limited to that specialty

 

[Med1992]

once you specialize your scope of practice is limited to that specialty

Ok thanks! But I noticed now that there are some fellowships available for further training in specifics in OMFS. For example, there is a cosmetic fellowship, an oral cancer one, etc. As a general OMFS, can you still do all of these or do you have to get fellowships?

Maybe I'm just thinking about this too much from an MD perspective since honestly thats the only thing I'm used to...I was pre-med until I shadowed dentistry

 

[NDPitch]

Hey. Congrats on seeing the light. I'm a medical to dental covert as well.

That said, this link will help you a lot in life. 🙂

http://bit.ly/17lnyAi

 

[mid]

Says the words "maxillofacial" and "surgeon" as many times as possible while in bars to pick up chicks and plays golf.

 

[wcombs]

My friend works at an OMFS office and the doctors there hardly do any dental work at all. They do botox and cosmetic surgery like face lifts, rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, liposuction. I was pretty blown away these guys went to dental school for 4 years to do plastic surgery.

 

[aznboi89x]

My friend works at an OMFS office and the doctors there hardly do any dental work at all. They do botox and cosmetic surgery like face lifts, rhinoplasty, chin augmentation, liposuction. I was pretty blown away these guys went to dental school for 4 years to do plastic surgery.

easy buck

 

[dentalWorks]

depends on where you will work.

generally, alot of OMFS partner up in an omfs office, they will do ALOT of extractions, implants, biopsys, etc etc (this will be bulk). Some of them will schedule surgeries in hospitals they are associated with (look below)

others will work in hospital's ER (especially those with level 1 trauma centers) they will be dealing with alot of facial reconstruction stuff: gun shot wounds, major accidents, the classic LeForts, orthodontic surgeries, etc etc.

I was very interested in OMFS as a pre-dent.... but the amount of commitment needed scared me especially considering I started DS at age 30. It is however, a beautiful field.

 

[KittySquared]

I was very interested in OMFS as a pre-dent.... but the amount of commitment needed scared me especially considering I started DS at age 30. It is however, a beautiful field.

You can finish a 4 year OMFS residency at 38 or a 6 year MD combined residency at 40. It's not that bad.

 

[dentalWorks]

You can finish a 4 year OMFS residency at 38 or a 6 year MD combined residency at 40. It's not that bad.

Can... yes
want to...hell no

 

[dmdluffy]

Can... yes
want to...hell no

+1

Everyone wants to specialize before dental school but no one wants to specialize during dental school.

 

[Gentledental1]

So I'm still in undergrad and doing pretty well in my courses, and I recently shadowed a dentist for a long time. It is now something I want to do! I know I'm getting way ahead of myself right now, but I'm curious as to what OMFS surgeons actually do? Looking more into it, it seems like something that I'd enjoy.

But basically, if you specialize in OMFS, can you open up an office and do general dentistry things (things you learned in dental school, like cleanings etc) along with OMFS? Or once you specialize, can you only do OMFS.

And also, what exactly do OMFS do? Do they do pretty much everything like cosmetic facial surgeries, dental implants, cancer, wisdom teeth and other procedures? Or do you have to do a fellowship to do specifics?

Sorry if I sound like a complete noob or if this has even been asked before...I'm just really curious and wanted to see what everyone else has to say about it

Hey man, I just dropped in here to say one thing. Never think you're getting too far ahead of yourself with career planning. I very clearly remember the day I decided I wanted to do OMFS. I was a sophomore in undergrad, took a one credit class called Intro to the Dental Profession. I'm currently finishing my first year of a six year OMFS program, I'm 26 years old, i'll have my second doctorate by 28, and be done with the damn thing by 31. I'm going to most likely do a fellowship, so I'll be a fellowship trained OMFS at the age of 32. I don't think i've missed out on life at all: I've lived in Australia for a year in college, traveled to 18 different countries, been a bartender, worked at summer camps, I'm a captain in the Air Force, I'm big into surfing, rock climbing, camping, snowboarding...and i've done a lot of these hobbies. I go on a lot of dates, go out to bars all the time with my friends, go to a lot of concerts. At this point in my career I have never felt so fulfilled or happy with my decisions. And the only way I would have been able to do all this by this age is by carefully planning my life. Good for you for thinking about it already, if you want to do it, go for it. It seems far away, but literally in the blink of an eye you'll be 30 years old, degrees in hand or not.

 

[goffdent]

Hey man, I just dropped in here to say one thing. Never think you're getting too far ahead of yourself with career planning. I very clearly remember the day I decided I wanted to do OMFS. I was a sophomore in undergrad, took a one credit class called Intro to the Dental Profession. I'm currently finishing my first year of a six year OMFS program, I'm 26 years old, i'll have my second doctorate by 28, and be done with the damn thing by 31. I'm going to most likely do a fellowship, so I'll be a fellowship trained OMFS at the age of 32. I don't think i've missed out on life at all: I've lived in Australia for a year in college, traveled to 18 different countries, been a bartender, worked at summer camps, I'm a captain in the Air Force, I'm big into surfing, rock climbing, camping, snowboarding...and i've done a lot of these hobbies. I go on a lot of dates, go out to bars all the time with my friends, go to a lot of concerts. At this point in my career I have never felt so fulfilled or happy with my decisions. And the only way I would have been able to do all this by this age is by carefully planning my life. Good for you for thinking about it already, if you want to do it, go for it. It seems far away, but literally in the blink of an eye you'll be 30 years old, degrees in hand or not.

Not everyone is well-rounded enough or didactically inclined to be able to keep up the hobbies that keep life fulfilling while attending dental school.. Many people find that simple pleasures tend to go by the wayside.

 

[trolol]

simply put:

 

[bambam92]

Cash checks and break necks...duhh!!

 

[bambam92]

simply put:

My thoughts exactly!!lol

 

[Gentledental1]

Not everyone is well-rounded enough or didactically inclined to be able to keep up the hobbies that keep life fulfilling while attending dental school.. Many people find that simple pleasures tend to go by the wayside.

Anyone cut out for OMFS is. If dental school is a struggle, OMFS isn't for you. However, I assure everyone on this thread, all but the bottom 10% of a dental class have social lives, and have a great time in dental school. The first six months take some adjusting, but after that, its the time of your life.

 

[Blue87Fiero]

My fiance works in a OMFS office and they do extraction, implants, and jaw surgery.....and that's pretty much it.