Oral Surgeons

Employment for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). This is faster than the average for all careers. The DOL says that “there will be increased demand for complicated dental work, including dental implants and bridges. The risk of oral cancer increases significantly with age, and complications can require both cosmetic and functional dental reconstruction.” Although the employment outlook in oral and maxillofacial surgery is good, the field is small. Only 6,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons are employed in the United States and only 400 new jobs will be created through 2028. Other positions will become open as surgeons retire or leave the field for other reasons.