About Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a dental specialty, in much the same way that orthopedic surgery is a specialty of the medical profession. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons complete an additional 4-6 years of hospital-based residency training beyond the four years of general dental training. As part of their specialty training, they study such diverse areas as anesthesia, head and neck surgery, pathology, trauma, radiology and cosmetics. 

In addition to their educational training, some Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons choose to undergo a rigorous written and oral examination given by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to become Board certified and achieve Diplomat status.

Although Board certification is not required to practice oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Pernoud has completed these examinations and earned the distinction of being a Diplomat to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.