OPT Oral Surgeon Jobs
Oral Surgeon jobs on OPT require employer sponsorship for H-1B visa or O-1 visas after your authorization period ends. Most positions are in private practices, hospital systems, or academic dental centers. Your STEM OPT extension does not apply here, so finding a sponsoring employer early is critical.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Purpose
As a licensed dentist, an oral surgeon treats conditions, defects, injuries, and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Treat conditions, defects, injuries, and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face.
- Examine patients to determine the nature of the condition affecting the patient, utilizing x-rays, dental instruments and other diagnostic procedures.
- Perform removal of diseased and impacted teeth.
- Place implants used to replace missing teeth.
- Administer anesthesia services.
- Provide preventive dental services and education in oral and dental hygiene.
- Supervise office staff, including hygienists, dental assistants, receptionists and other office staff.
- Adheres to safety protocols and processes including but not limited to ensuring protective equipment is utilized and OSHA/Bloodborne pathogen requirements are followed.
- Participate in morning huddles, chart reviews and routine office meetings.
- All other duties and responsibilities allowed under applicable state laws and regulations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Commitment to quality patient care and enjoy educating patients on dental health.
- Effective communication skills; demonstrates professional and courteous demeanor with patients.
Qualifications (Experience, Education, Licensure, Certification)
- DDS or DMD degree, licensed in state in which practicing or have the ability to obtain licensure upon graduation.
- Completion of an oral surgery residency program.
- Current Advance Life Support (ALS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate.
Working Conditions
Oral Surgeons work in areas that are highly visible and designed and furnished to make a good impression. Most work stations are clean, well-lighted, and relatively quiet. Work is sedentary in nature.
Job Purpose
As a licensed dentist, an oral surgeon treats conditions, defects, injuries, and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Treat conditions, defects, injuries, and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face.
- Examine patients to determine the nature of the condition affecting the patient, utilizing x-rays, dental instruments and other diagnostic procedures.
- Perform removal of diseased and impacted teeth.
- Place implants used to replace missing teeth.
- Administer anesthesia services.
- Provide preventive dental services and education in oral and dental hygiene.
- Supervise office staff, including hygienists, dental assistants, receptionists and other office staff.
- Adheres to safety protocols and processes including but not limited to ensuring protective equipment is utilized and OSHA/Bloodborne pathogen requirements are followed.
- Participate in morning huddles, chart reviews and routine office meetings.
- All other duties and responsibilities allowed under applicable state laws and regulations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Commitment to quality patient care and enjoy educating patients on dental health.
- Effective communication skills; demonstrates professional and courteous demeanor with patients.
Qualifications (Experience, Education, Licensure, Certification)
- DDS or DMD degree, licensed in state in which practicing or have the ability to obtain licensure upon graduation.
- Completion of an oral surgery residency program.
- Current Advance Life Support (ALS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate.
Working Conditions
Oral Surgeons work in areas that are highly visible and designed and furnished to make a good impression. Most work stations are clean, well-lighted, and relatively quiet. Work is sedentary in nature.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Oral Surgeon
Target hospital systems and academic dental programs
Large hospital networks and university-affiliated dental schools are more experienced with visa sponsorship than small private practices. They have HR infrastructure and legal teams already familiar with H-1B visa petitions for oral surgeons and other specialty physicians.
Understand your OPT timeline relative to residency completion
OPT begins after your degree, but oral surgery residencies are typically four to six years. Confirm your OPT start date with your DSO immediately after program completion so you know exactly how much authorized work time you have remaining.
Raise visa status in early interviews, not after an offer
Practices that cannot sponsor visas will withdraw offers once work authorization comes up. Asking early saves weeks of your OPT window. Frame it directly: you are on OPT now and will need H-1B sponsorship before your authorization expires.
Prioritize multi-location group practices over solo practitioners
Multi-site dental service organizations and regional oral surgery groups sponsor foreign workers more frequently than individual practitioners. Their legal and HR teams have handled the process before, which reduces delays and misunderstandings during your hiring timeline.
Get your board certifications and state dental license in order early
Employers will not begin H-1B sponsorship until you hold a valid state dental license and meet ABOMS certification requirements. Delays in credentialing directly eat into your OPT window, so begin the licensing process as early as your program allows.
Work with an immigration attorney before signing any employment contract
Oral surgery employment contracts often include non-compete clauses and multi-year commitments. An immigration attorney can review whether the contract terms align with H-1B sponsorship requirements and flag any provisions that could complicate your future visa filings.
Oral Surgeon OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an oral surgeon on OPT before completing my residency?
No. OPT authorizes work directly related to your degree program, and oral surgery practice requires completion of an accredited oral and maxillofacial surgery residency plus state dental licensure. You cannot legally practice as an oral surgeon until both are complete, regardless of your OPT status.
Does the STEM OPT extension apply to oral surgery programs?
Almost certainly not. STEM OPT applies only to degrees classified under approved STEM CIP codes, which are technology and science fields. Dental medicine and oral surgery programs are classified under health professions codes, making them ineligible for the 24-month STEM extension. Your standard OPT window is 12 months.
How do I find oral surgeon jobs where employers are open to OPT and visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters for employers that are open to sponsoring work visas. Searching there focuses your time on practices and health systems already familiar with the process, rather than applying broadly and discovering visa limitations after multiple interview rounds.
Which visa categories can an oral surgeon transition to after OPT?
Most oral surgeons pursue H-1B sponsorship, since the role clearly qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a specialized degree. O-1A is an option for surgeons with demonstrated national recognition through publications, awards, or leadership roles. J-1 visa waivers through the Conrad 30 program are also used by foreign medical graduates willing to work in underserved areas.
What happens to my OPT if I switch from one oral surgery employer to another?
You can change employers on OPT, but your new position must still be directly related to your degree field, and you must report the employer change to your DSO within ten days. The change does not restart your OPT clock. If your new employer also needs to sponsor your H-1B, that sponsorship process starts fresh with the new organization.