{"id":526,"date":"2026-03-26T15:35:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.novaoms.net\/blog\/?p=526"},"modified":"2026-03-26T15:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:36:01","slug":"difference-between-oral-surgeon-and-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novaoms.net\/blog\/?p=526","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Difference Between an Oral Surgeon and a Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You can rely on your general dentist for routine preventive care as well as a variety of restorative treatments. But if you have an advanced dental issue that requires oral surgery<\/a>, it\u2019s often best to seek the services of a specialist \u2013 namely, an oral surgeon. If you\u2019re visiting an oral surgeon for the first time, you may find yourself wondering what makes them different than a regular dentist. Below is a closer look at what separates the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Education and Training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both general dentists and oral surgeons are expected to complete four years of dental school in order to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). However, after graduating from dental school, oral surgeons must enroll in a hospital-based residency program and complete four to six years of advanced training. As a result, oral surgeons tend to be far more experienced than general dentists when it comes to performing particularly complex treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Procedures Performed by an Oral Surgeon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

General dentists typically focus on preventive care, which means they take steps to address dental issues while they\u2019re still small or stop them from happening in the first place. Meanwhile, oral surgeons perform a number of specialized treatments in order to resolve a wide range of issues involving the mouth, jaw, and face. Some of the procedures your oral surgeon might offer include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n