What is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
A board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist who has completed a hospital-based surgical residency and passed rigorous national board exams certifying expertise in complex tooth extraction, implant placement, jaw surgery, and related procedures.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a licensed dentist who has completed additional training beyond dental school. After earning a DDS or DMD degree, an OMS must complete a hospital-based residency program typically lasting 4 to 6 years, where they train in surgical techniques, anesthesia, pathology, and management of complex cases involving the teeth, jaws, face, and surrounding structures.
Board certification means the surgeon has passed written and oral exams administered by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). These exams test clinical knowledge, surgical judgment, and patient safety standards. Board certification is a voluntary credential that goes beyond the state dental license required to practice, signaling to patients that the surgeon has met national standards of competence and maintains continuing education requirements.
For dental implant patients, this training matters because complex implant cases often involve bone grafting, sinus elevation, management of nerve anatomy, and decisions about implant positioning in difficult jaw structures. A board-certified OMS has extensive experience with these scenarios. You can find qualified surgeons offering implant services in the Greenville area by browsing the oral surgery and implant placement provider directory.