This organization was founded in 1918 by 29 dentists who specialized in extracting teeth. In 1919, the organization was initially named "American Society of Exodontists" and was formally recognized by American Dental Association. In 1921, the organization changed its name from American Society of Exodontists to the A"merican Society of Oral Surgeons and Exodontists." During World War I, US did not have Dental Corps yet because of which lot of dentists volunteered for surgery with their medical colleagues. Lot of oral surgeons in the earlier part of 20th century had their medical degrees which allowed them to work with facial trauma in the World War I. Some of the early dentists who progressed the speciality in many different ways were Varaztad Kazanjian, Robert H. Ivy, Carl W. Waldron. Simon Hullihen and James Garretson are also known for their significant contributions to the field of oral surgery.