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The differences between periodontists and oral surgeons can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an oral surgeon has an average salary of $427,828, which is higher than the $227,065 average annual salary of a periodontist.
The top three skills for a periodontist include patients, dental care and soft tissue. The most important skills for an oral surgeon are patients, patient care, and dental care.
| Periodontist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Yearly salary | $227,065 | $427,828 |
| Hourly rate | $109.17 | $205.69 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,145 | 23,387 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
Periodontists must have a PhD in chemistry, biology, or another health-related field. They also need good interpersonal skills, manual dexterity, stamina, and problem-solving skills. Periodontists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, placing dental implants, and treating oral inflammation. They typically earn around $248K per year.
Oral Surgeons consult with patients and analyze patient information to determine the patient's requirements and treatment objectives. They plan treatments by partnering with other professionals like orthodontists and restorative dentists. These professionals record patients' care by keeping comprehensive patient appointment notes relating to test results, prescribed treatments, prescribed tests, and comments. Besides administering local anesthetics and general anesthetics, where necessary, oral surgeons also prescribe medication that can control pain after surgical procedures and improve patient recovery.
Periodontists and oral surgeons have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Periodontist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Average salary | $227,065 | $427,828 |
| Salary range | Between $133,000 And $385,000 | Between $213,000 And $856,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bellingham, WA | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Vermont |
| Best paying company | New England Cancer Specialists | SEARHC |
| Best paying industry | Media | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a periodontist and an oral surgeon in terms of educational background:
| Periodontist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between periodontists' and oral surgeons' demographics:
| Periodontist | Oral Surgeon | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8% | Male, 25.2% Female, 74.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 17.4% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |