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Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

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Oral and maxillofacial surgeons train to perform a variety of surgeries. Read about some of the different concentrations and subspecialties. Is this a career you're interested in pursuing?

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The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Dentists

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners

Administer general and local anesthetics.

Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.

Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.

Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.

Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.

Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.

Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.

Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.

Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.

Restore form and function by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissues from other parts of the body to reconstruct the jaws and face.

Apteryx Imaging Suite

DentalEye

Planmeca Oy Dimaxis

Sirona SIDEXIS XG

DecisionBase TiME for OMS

Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management

DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec

Periosteal elevators

Root elevators

Warwick-James elevators

Woodward elevators

Articulating paper forceps

Mead forceps

Pedodontic forceps

Root forceps

Curved dental scissors

Straight iris scissors

Wire cutting scissors

Wire twisting scissors

Compass microsaws

Dental reciprocating saws

Oscillating microsaws

Osseoscalpel microsaws

Rubber dam clamp forceps

Rubber dam clamps

Rubber dam frames

Rubber dam punches

Anterior periotomes

Curved osteostomes

Posterior periotomes

Straight osteotomes

Anesthesia machines

Anesthetic injectors

Nitrous oxide delivery systems

Cheek retractors

Tongue retractors

V-notch retractors

Bone packers

Bone pluggers

Bone tampers

Left syndesmotomes

Right syndesmotomes

Straight syndesmotomes

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?

Every day

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Very important results

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

Very close (near touching)

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

A lot of freedom

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Overview

Career

What Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Do

Other Job Titles Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Overview

Career

What Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Do

Other Job Titles Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders