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Meeting with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Beyond pulled wisdom teeth and implants! Find out what it is like to be an oral surgeon. #womensurgeons #dentistry #careersinmedicine
Elina Kamensky
10/5/20263 min read
For our latest Career Connection Club meeting, we spoke with Dr. Emily Halpern, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. What I found especially interesting is that oral surgery combines a lot of things that do not always seem like they would go together: medicine, surgery, dentistry, creativity, technology, patient care, and even business management.
Dr. Halpern said she had always been interested in healthcare, but dentistry appealed to her because it was more hands-on and creative. Oral surgery took that even further by adding more complex medical and surgical skills, including anesthesia, incisions, managing bleeding, and treating more complicated conditions.
Today, her work includes procedures such as tooth extractions, dental implants, bone grafts, sinus lifts, and biopsies. Some oral surgeons also work in hospitals on facial bone surgery and more complex medical cases.
Dr. Halpern owns her private practice, which means that in addition to treating patients, she is managing staff, operations, finances, insurance, and all the other responsibilities that come with running a small business. She described the independence of private practice as a major advantage, but also pointed out that many doctors and dentists receive very little formal business training even though they may eventually have to run a practice.
Quote I loved
“Find work you actually enjoy enough that the long training feels worth it.”
Actionable Insights
Shadow before you commit. Dr. Halpern strongly encouraged students interested in dentistry or medicine to spend time observing professionals in real clinical settings. A career can sound very different on paper than it feels in practice.
Think about what kind of work you enjoy. She chose dentistry partly because she liked working with her hands and appreciated the creative and technical side of the profession. If you enjoy doing rather than only analyzing, dentistry and surgery may be worth exploring.
Do not underestimate the training. Oral surgery usually means four years of college, four years of dental school, and then four to six additional years of residency. Understanding the full path before committing is important.
Work-life balance can exist in surgery. Dr. Halpern described a schedule that is much more manageable now than during residency, often around 9-4 or 10-5 with one day off during the week and occasional weekend responsibilities.
The field is becoming more open to women. Oral surgery is still male dominated, but Dr. Halpern has seen more women enter the specialty over time. She also said that some patients appreciate the gentler approach they associate with female surgeons.
You do not have to copy someone else's leadership style. One interesting point was that women do not need to adopt traditionally masculine traits to succeed in a male-dominated field. You can lead effectively while still being yourself.
Technology is changing dentistry, but the human side still matters. AI has not dramatically changed oral surgery yet, but Dr. Halpern is already seeing more use of technology in dentistry, including X-ray analysis and treatment planning.
3D planning is becoming more important. CAT scans and software can already help surgeons plan implant placement and other procedures. Dr. Halpern still prefers some traditional methods, but expects these technologies to keep improving.
Stay current after school ends. Training does not stop once you finish residency. Dr. Halpern keeps up through continuing education, study clubs, journals, and new techniques. That is how she learned about technologies such as PRF and later incorporated them into her practice.
Research can still be part of a clinical career. She has participated in research based on real patients and enjoyed the experience, although running a full practice now takes most of her time.
Stress changes with experience. Surgery can sound extremely stressful, especially when patients are anxious or complications are possible. Dr. Halpern explained that as your experience grows, many situations become much more manageable.
Part of the job is emotional, not just technical. Oral surgeons often work with patients who are very nervous. Being able to calm people down and build trust is an important part of doing the job well.
Final Thoughts
What I liked most about this conversation was how practical it was. Oral surgery sounds very specialized, but the bigger questions Dr. Halpern raised apply to almost any career: Do you enjoy the actual day-to-day work? Are you comfortable with the training required to get there? Her career is also a good reminder that healthcare does not have to mean becoming a traditional physician. There are many different paths that combine science, technical skill, creativity, patient interaction, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Halpern also generously offered to let interested students reach out if they would like to ask additional questions or potentially explore a shadowing opportunity.