An oral surgeon (known formally as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon) is a dental specialist. After spending eight years in college and graduate school earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree, oral surgeons are required to complete an additional 4-6 years of hospital-based training alongside medical residents.

As the name implies, oral surgeons focus strictly on performing dental surgical procedures. These procedures include simple and complicated teeth extractions (including wisdom teeth), dental implant placement, repair of broken bones in the jaws and face, removal of cysts and tumors of the jaws, soft tissue biopsies, jaw realignment surgery to correct bite discrepancies, and cosmetic and TMJ surgeries.