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Oral Surgeons

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons must complete dental school and a postgraduate residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery that typically lasts four to six years.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need excellent manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and color vision in order to work with precision on an extremely small scale. Having top-notch manual dexterity is so important in this field that the Dental Admission Test contains a section that specifically tests this skill. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons also need strong communication and interpersonal skills because they often collaborate with other dental professionals such as restorative dentists and orthodontists to develop treatment plans. They also need to be good communicators in order to explain complex medical procedures and conditions to patients. Empathy and good listening skills also come in handy. Other important traits include strong problem-solving skills, the ability to perform well under pressure, leadership ability, and strong organizational and time-management skills.