20 Best Dental Schools in the United States for OMFS in 2026: Top Programs for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Preparation
20 Best Dental Schools in the United States for OMFS in 2026: Top Programs for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Preparation
Oral and maxillofacial surgery, commonly abbreviated as OMFS, is one of the most competitive specialties in dentistry. OMFS surgeons treat complex conditions involving the mouth, jaw, face, and skull. Their work ranges from wisdom tooth extraction and dental implants to facial trauma surgery, corrective jaw surgery, and reconstruction after cancer treatment.
Because OMFS is both a dental and surgical specialty, students must complete dental school followed by a highly selective residency program. These residencies typically last four years, although many programs offer a six year track that includes earning a medical degree and completing hospital surgical training.
Students who hope to enter OMFS should attend dental schools with strong surgical departments, large hospital systems, and faculty actively involved in OMFS research and residency programs.
Below are twenty dental schools widely recognized for preparing students for OMFS residencies.
20 Best Dental Schools for OMFS
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Cambridge Massachusetts
Harvard’s dental program integrates medical education and produces many graduates who enter OMFS residencies.University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Penn’s OMFS department is internationally respected and provides strong research opportunities.Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
New York New York
Students train within Columbia University Irving Medical Center, gaining exposure to hospital based surgical care.University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Ann Arbor Michigan
Michigan is one of the most research intensive dental schools and produces many OMFS residents.University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry
Chapel Hill North Carolina
UNC has a highly respected OMFS department and strong surgical training.University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry
Los Angeles California
UCLA offers strong clinical exposure and major research programs in craniofacial surgery.University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry
San Francisco California
UCSF integrates dental and medical training within a large hospital system.University of Washington School of Dentistry
Seattle Washington
Washington is known for craniofacial surgery research and advanced surgical training.University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Baltimore Maryland
Maryland operates strong OMFS residency programs connected to large hospitals.New York University College of Dentistry
New York New York
NYU benefits from large patient volume and access to multiple hospital systems.University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh combines strong surgical research with hospital based training.Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Boston Massachusetts
Boston University provides extensive exposure to surgical cases.Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Boston Massachusetts
Tufts produces many graduates who match into OMFS programs.University of Florida College of Dentistry
Gainesville Florida
Florida’s dental school provides strong preparation through its surgical departments.Baylor College of Dentistry at Texas A and M University
Dallas Texas
Baylor is known for clinical excellence and strong OMFS training.University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry
Houston Texas
Located within the Texas Medical Center, students gain access to hospital surgical training.University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Chicago Illinois
UIC offers strong exposure to trauma and surgical cases.Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
Richmond Virginia
VCU integrates dental training with hospital surgical rotations.Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Cleveland Ohio
Case Western’s program provides strong OMFS research opportunities.University of Alabama Birmingham School of Dentistry
Birmingham Alabama
UAB’s dental school has a highly respected OMFS residency program.
What OMFS Surgeons Do
OMFS surgeons perform a wide range of procedures involving the mouth, jaw, and facial skeleton.
Common procedures include removal of impacted wisdom teeth, placement of dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, treatment of facial trauma from accidents, removal of tumors and cysts, and reconstructive surgery following cancer treatment.
Some OMFS surgeons also treat sleep apnea through surgical repositioning of the jaw and airway.
Because of the complexity of these procedures, OMFS surgeons receive extensive hospital based training in anesthesia, trauma surgery, and reconstructive techniques.
Why OMFS Is So Competitive
OMFS residencies accept very small numbers of applicants each year. Many programs accept only two to six residents annually.
Applicants must usually rank near the top of their dental school class and demonstrate strong clinical skills.
Research experience, externships at OMFS programs, and strong faculty recommendations are often required to secure interviews.
Students must also perform well on national dental board examinations.
Training Path to Become an OMFS Surgeon
The pathway to becoming an OMFS surgeon typically includes four years of dental school followed by a four year surgical residency.
Six year programs include additional medical school training and a medical degree.
During residency surgeons train in anesthesia, trauma care, pathology, reconstructive surgery, and implant placement.
Residents also rotate through hospital departments such as general surgery, plastic surgery, and emergency medicine.
Salary and Career Outlook
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are among the highest earning professionals in dentistry.
Many OMFS surgeons earn between three hundred thousand and seven hundred thousand dollars per year depending on practice setting and specialization.
Demand for oral surgeons remains strong due to increasing need for dental implants, trauma treatment, and corrective jaw surgery.
For dental students seeking one of the most challenging and rewarding specialties, attending a dental school with strong OMFS training and hospital affiliations can provide a significant advantage.
High value sources
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
https://www.aaoms.org
Commission on Dental Accreditation OMFS residency programs
https://coda.ada.org
American Dental Education Association dental school statistics
https://www.adea.org
American Dental Association specialty overview
https://www.ada.org
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics dentist career outlook
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm
