A general dentist is someone who diagnoses and addresses oral diseases on temporary and permanent teeth. A common procedure they offer is filling cavities. They also do bridges, veneers, crowns, scaling and polishing, aligner treatment options, root canals, and maintenance procedures. On the other hand, an oral surgeon does not do any of these. Instead, they focus on more complex treatment affecting the jaws, face, and mouth. The scope of surgical practice is varied, ranging from oral pathology, wisdom teeth extraction, and jaw fractures, jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) to dental implants, bone grafting, oral mucosal diseases, management of jaw cysts, dentoalveolar surgery, and complex facial surgery. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are responsible for adjunctive treatment of defects, injuries, re-formation of the facial region, and diseases affecting the soft tissue and hard tissues of the mouth.