When I chose Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, one of the most common questions I heard was:
“So… are you a dentist or a surgeon?”
And most times, especially as a woman, another question followed:
“How will you manage night duties and emergency calls? Is it safe?”The truth is, this specialty sits at a unique intersection.
It begins with dentistry, but very quickly deviates from what people commonly understand as “general dentistry.”
The work moves beyond routine dental procedures into managing facial trauma, complex extractions, jaw pathologies, infections and surgical reconstruction of the face and jaws. And just like how no two faces are alike, No two surgeries are the same. This is what keeps us hooked, stems the passion, I would believe.
For women in surgical fields, the journey can bring its own challenges.
Late-night duties, emergency calls and safety concerns are realities we often have to think about alongside our professional responsibilities.
And beyond this, there are societal expectations too, the subtle reminders that women should settle early, that prioritizing a demanding career might be seen as being “too ambitious” or even “selfish.”
But what I find inspiring is watching more and more women in this field shine with quiet grace and competence. Balancing compassion, skill, resilience and dedication to their craft.
The operating room teaches you many things.
Patience. Precision. Responsibility.
But perhaps most importantly, it teaches you that choosing growth and purpose should never be mistaken for selfishness.
Over time, the difficult cases, the long nights and the constant learning make you realize why you chose this path in the first place.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery may not always be widely understood outside the profession.
But for those who practice it, it becomes more than a specialty.
It becomes a commitment to precision, resilience and the responsibility of restoring both function and confidence for every patient we treat.
MBH/PS