Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

When Do You Need an Oral Surgeon?

While general dentists handle routine extractions, certain situations require the specialized training and surgical expertise of an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS). Dr. Pratik Raut's surgical training equips him to handle:

• Impacted wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth that are stuck beneath the bone or growing at angles require surgical exposure and removal.
• Impacted canines: Canines that fail to erupt properly need surgical exposure so orthodontic treatment can guide them into position.
• Jaw cysts and pathology: Cysts and benign tumors in the jaw require surgical enucleation (removal) and sometimes bone grafting.
• Dental trauma: Fractured, avulsed (knocked-out), or luxated (displaced) teeth from accidents need emergency surgical management.
• Pre-implant bone grafting: When the jawbone has insufficient volume for implant placement, surgical bone grafting builds up the foundation.
• Biopsy of oral lesions: Any suspicious growth or persistent ulcer in the mouth should be biopsied for accurate diagnosis.

Wisdom Teeth: To Remove or Not to Remove?

Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last teeth to erupt, typically between ages 17–25. In many cases, modern jaws simply don't have enough room to accommodate them, leading to impaction. Not all wisdom teeth need removal — but they should be extracted if they are:

1. Partially erupted: A flap of gum tissue covering a partially erupted wisdom tooth traps bacteria, causing repeated infections (pericoronitis).
2. Decayed or damaged: Wisdom teeth are difficult to clean and frequently develop cavities. Treating them is often impractical due to their position.
3. Causing damage to adjacent teeth: An impacted wisdom tooth pressing against the second molar can cause decay, root resorption, or crowding.
4. Associated with a cyst: Impacted teeth can develop dentigerous cysts that slowly expand and destroy surrounding bone.

"Modern surgical techniques and 3D imaging have made wisdom tooth removal safer and more predictable than ever. What used to be a dreaded procedure can now be a comfortable, efficient experience." — Dr. Pratik Raut

Minimally Invasive Approach

Dr. Pratik Raut follows the principle of "atraumatic surgery" — using techniques specifically designed to minimize tissue and bone damage during surgical procedures. This philosophy translates directly into faster healing, less swelling, and reduced post-operative pain for our patients.

Atraumatic techniques include: piezoelectric bone cutting (using ultrasonic vibrations instead of drills), physics forceps for extraction (which use mechanical advantage to extract teeth without crushing bone), and the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) — a concentration of the patient's own growth factors placed into the surgical site to accelerate healing.