If your dentist has referred you to an oral surgeon — or if you're wondering whether you need one — you're not alone. Many patients aren't sure what makes an oral surgeon different from their regular dentist, or why the distinction matters for their care.
Here's a clear, honest explanation of the differences and when seeing an oral surgeon makes a meaningful difference in your outcome.
## Training and Education
A general dentist completes four years of dental school after an undergraduate degree, earning a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry). General dentists are trained to perform a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures — cleanings, fillings, crowns, simple extractions, and more.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) completes the same dental school training and then completes an additional 4 to 6 years of hospital-based surgical residency. The 6-year program also includes a full medical degree (MD), with rotations in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, trauma surgery, oncology, and other hospital specialties.
- Administer IV sedation and general anesthesia safely in the office
- Perform complex surgical extractions, including fully impacted wisdom teeth
- Place dental implants and perform bone grafting
- Manage facial trauma and jaw fractures
- Diagnose and treat oral cancer and pathology
## Anesthesia Capabilities
One of the biggest practical differences is anesthesia. General dentists can typically provide local anesthesia and nitrous oxide. Most cannot administer IV sedation in the office — because doing so legally and safely requires a separate surgical training program and state licensure.
Oral surgeons are specifically trained and licensed to administer IV sedation in the office setting. This is why patients scheduled for wisdom teeth removal, dental implant placement, or other surgical procedures are most comfortable and best served by an oral surgeon.
## Can My Dentist Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Technically, general dentists can remove some wisdom teeth — specifically those that are fully erupted and have straightforward roots. Many do so routinely.
However, impacted wisdom teeth — those that are partially or fully embedded in the jawbone — require surgical technique that most general dentists are not trained or equipped to handle safely. Impacted third molars near the inferior alveolar nerve require 3D imaging and surgical skill that is the core training of an oral surgeon.
For this reason, most general dentists refer impacted wisdom teeth cases to oral surgeons, even when they could technically attempt the extraction themselves.
## Can My Dentist Place Dental Implants?
Some general dentists place dental implants, particularly single-tooth implants in straightforward cases. However, complex cases — those involving bone grafting, sinus lifts, proximity to nerves, or full-arch restoration — are typically best handled by specialists.
Oral surgeons place the implant fixture itself (the surgical phase). Your dentist or prosthodontist then places the final crown or restoration. This team approach produces the best outcomes for complex cases.
## The Referral Process
- Your wisdom teeth are impacted
- A tooth requires surgical extraction
- You need dental implants and may need bone grafting
- You have a suspicious oral lesion that needs biopsy
- You've had facial trauma
The referral is a sign that your dentist is doing their job well — recognizing when specialized care will serve you better.
## Board Certification
Just as physicians can be board-certified in their specialty, oral surgeons can be board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). Board certification requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations after completing residency training.
At Oral Surgeons of Indiana, all of our surgeons are board-certified — meaning they've met the highest standard of credentialing in the specialty.
## Choosing the Right Provider
For routine dental care: your general dentist.
For surgical procedures, complex extractions, dental implants, or IV sedation: an oral surgeon.
When in doubt, ask your dentist what they recommend and why. A good dentist will always refer to a specialist when that's in your best interest.
To schedule a consultation with our board-certified oral surgeons, call (317) 876-1095 or request an appointment online. We see patients from Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, and throughout Central Indiana.
Learn more about our wisdom teeth removal and dental implant services.