Onboarding plan

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new oral and maxillofacial surgeon from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: Board certification (ABOMS), State dental license (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: surgical instruments; cone beam CT; implant systems; sedation monitors
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Follow anesthesia monitoring standards
  • Keep emergency drugs ready
  • Use sterile surgical technique
  • Protect nerves during surgery
  • Shadow an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: plan an implant placement
  • Supervised practice: remove an impacted wisdom tooth
  • Supervised practice: monitor IV sedation
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Remove impacted teeth: independently
  • Place dental implants: independently
  • Perform jaw surgery: independently
  • Repair facial injuries: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, Board certification (ABOMS))
  • Discuss the career path: OMS Resident → Oral Surgeon → Practice Partner
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Plan an Implant Placement
Remove an Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Monitor IV Sedation
Oral surgery
Anesthesia and sedation
Implant placement
Facial trauma repair

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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