What is Maxillofacial surgery?
“You have to be committed to lifelong learning,” says Louis Rafto, past president of the American Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, director of the oral and maxillofacial residency program at Christiana Carey Health Systems and a private practice in Wilmington, Delaware. “Surgeries will stay the same, but the way they’re performed will change,” says Rafto.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 7.7 percent for oral and maxillofacial surgeons between 2020 and 2030. During that period, an estimated 400 jobs will be created.
How much does a maxillofacial surgeon earn?
How to become Maxillofacial surgery?
A prospective oral and maxillofacial surgeon must also score well on the dental entrance exam. Dental school usually lasts about four years, but specialists such as oral and maxillofacial surgeons require additional training, usually in the form of a multi-year residency.
These surgeons should also plan to obtain certification through the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which is the standard in this field. In order to maintain board certification, recertification and continuing education are required. Continuing education is important because the field of this profession is evolving. For example, in years past, the treatment of sleep apnea was not really in the scope of the maxillofacial surgeon. Now Rafto says that it is.
Job Satisfaction
The average American works well into their 60s, so workers may have an enjoyable and fulfilling career. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance, and strong prospects for improvement, promotion, and higher pay make many employees happy. Here’s how Maxillofacial surgeons Job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.