A maxillofacial surgeon’s salary usually depends on the area of surgery he specializes in, and the experience in this field. To have a better understanding about the career and emoluments, keep reading ahead.
Surgeons are some of the highest paid professionals in the world, because their work requires high skill and expertise. They can also be considered to be physicians, but they are physicians who specialize in treating an illness, through surgical procedures. In this article we are going to discuss a maxillofacial surgeon’s salary and learn what the job entails. These surgeons are specialists in the field of dentistry, that focuses on the problems of the mouth, jaw, and neck. The pay package can be anywhere between USD 100,000 to USD 200,000.
Those interested in becoming a maxillofacial surgeon should have a dentistry degree and should also complete their studies required for expertise in surgery. Due to the complications involved in the surgery of the entire face and neck, the training period is at least 5 years, before the surgeon appears for medical examinations to prove his merit. The job involves proper diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and keeping a check on the patient’s progress even after the surgery.
Education
This profession requires an oral degree with a 4 year residency in dental or facial surgery. Dentists who are already established in their fields can also start their studies in maxillofacial surgery. At least 4 years of dental study, with another 4 to 6 years of specialization in facial surgery completes the educational requirements for the job.
Job Description
Most of these surgeons are hired by hospitals and private clinics. A large percentage of them can also be found working for the government and military. There’s a high demand for maxillofacial surgeons all around the world, as they specialize in health issues of the jaw, neck, and facial area. These are delicate problems, which have to handled through thorough planning and examination. The surgeon has to explain the nature of the problem to his patients and guide them about the entire surgical procedure, as well as the road to recovery ahead.
The surgeon should be able to apply logic and reason to identify strengths and weaknesses of each and every situation, before making a decision. The surgeon should be ready with an immediate plan of action in cases of emergency. I think it’s pretty safe to say that maxillofacial surgeons work in a stressful environment and sometimes, if the stress is too much to handle, he or she can retire and go back to dentistry.
Salary Range
They are specialized surgeons and earn a pretty handsome pay package. The salary of a maxillofacial surgeon mainly depends upon the number of years in practice, the place of work, and expertise. People who have less than a year in practice earn more than USD 130,000 annually. Surgeons who complete more than 4 years in this field earn more than USD 200,000.
To become a maxillofacial surgeon you will need two medical degrees, with that you also need to have patience, dedication, and physical, as well as mental strength to perform complicated procedures. The training can take a lot of time, depending on your grasping power and sense of reasoning. Most of these surgeons get a weekly off, but in case of an emergency, you have to report to your work desk at any time.