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• Jan 17, 2026
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Best Maxillofacial Surgeon in Goa for Jaw & TMJ Care

Not All Dental Problems Can Be Solved by a General Dentist. It’s been generally presumed that every kind of problem in the dental sector, whether it’s related to teeth and the jaw, is treated by a general dentist.

General dentists are a must in oral health, but some kinds of problems are much more complicated and related to deeper oral anatomy, which includes:
Bones, joints, facial Structures, airway Function, nerves, and surgical reconstruction

Families who first look for an emergency dentist in Goa, or residents in South Goa searching for a 24-hour availability, often discover that certain situations go beyond routine dentistry and require oral surgical intervention.

Patients in need of emergency dental care in Margao frequently present with conditions that involve the jawbone, facial bones, sinus space, or airway, which cannot be resolved by routine clinical procedures alone.
 

When such cases are not referred to the relevant specialist, the following can occur:

•  Misdiagnosis, aggravating pain or dysfunction

•  Progressive bone loss

• Joint degeneration
  
  

This led to increased surgical complexity later. This is the reason why the importance of specialised knowledge cannot be overstated. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons have the skills to diagnose, surgically treat, and rehabilitate complicated dental, jaw, and facial problems that cannot be treated with general dental care.

Call or WhatsApp +91 8788947831 for a Free Specialist Consultation on Emergency Dental Care.

What is Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery? 

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is the most prestigious surgical speciality in the dental field and encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of conditions including:

✔  Jaw bones

✔ Teeth & Tooth Roots

✔ Temporomandibular joint

✔ Facial skeleton

✔ Oral lesions & pathology

✔ Sinus and airway passages

Facial trauma and reconstruction

By contrast, OMFS entails much more than general dentistry, including surgery, hospital experience, management, trauma, and airway management.

Range of General Dentistry

The main responsibilities of general dentists include

• Fillings

• Cleaning & Prophylaxis

• Root Canal Treatments

• Dent

• Cosmetic procedures

• Fundamental implants

• Preventive care

General dentistry services are essential, but not surgical specialisation.

Dr Taranjit Kaur — Specialist Qualifications & Background

When patients in Goa search for “best maxillofacial surgeon Goa,” “oral surgeon Margao,” or “maxillofacial surgeon vs dentist Goa,” they essentially seek an assurance that the practitioner who attends to their issue has the required training and experience.

Prof. Dr Taranjit Kaur, who is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with more than 25+ years of expertise in the treatment of complicated cases related to dentals, face, & jaws, is driving the specialised treatment at Healing Touch Centre, Margao.

Her treatment facility is different in Goa because of her:

✔ MDS (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery) - the highest surgical specialisation in dentistry

✔ TMJ Specialist – in treating patients with chronic jaw pain, joint, and related neuromuscular issues

✔ Published Researcher – engaging with the literature to inform treatment decisions.

✔ Sleep Dentist Certification – the Only One in Goa till June 2024 – airway and sleep apnea treatment incorporated into dental practice

✔ Expert Surgical Skills in: bone grafting, sinus lift procedure, trauma surgery, full-mouth implant reconstruction, and orthognathic jaw surgery

✔ 24/7 Emergency Dental Availability — Very Important for Trauma/Accident-related Dental Issues in Goa

✔ Gentle Care “Healing Touch” Approach – aimed at reducing discomfort and stress to patients, including seniors and medically compromised cases

✔ Cross-Disciplinary Coordination - coordination among physicians, ENT specialists, sleep specialists, and neurologists when necessary

It treats patients coming from Margao, and other districts of South Goa, Panjim, and reaches out even to neighbouring patients from Maharashtra and Karnataka for treatment that is not easily found elsewhere.

Complex Procedures Beyond the Scope of General Dentistry

While general dentists handle routine care such as fillings, cleanings, root canal treatments, and simple extractions, certain conditions involve the jaw bones, joints, facial symmetry, airway, and overall skeletal function. These require advanced surgical training, hospital-based execution, and anatomical precision that fall exclusively within Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS).

Two such procedures include:

1. Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
   Orthognathic surgery is performed to correct skeletal jaw discrepancies that affect chewing function, speech, facial balance, breathing, and TMJ biomechanics. This procedure requires digital surgical planning, orthodontic coordination, and hospital privileges, and is therefore performed only by an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. This is why patients who search for jaw surgery in Goa are typically referred to OMFS specialists rather than general dentists.

2. TMJ Arthrocentesis
   TMJ arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive joint procedure used for patients with jaw locking, popping, restricted opening, inflammatory joint pain, or internal disc derangement. The procedure involves flushing the TMJ compartments to restore mobility and reduce pain. Due to the anatomical and surgical complexity involved, only a TMJ surgeon trained in maxillofacial surgery can perform it safely and effectively.

Together, these interventions demonstrate that jaw, joint, and skeletal problems extend beyond routine dentistry and require specialist-level surgical expertise for predictable and functional outcomes.

When to Choose a Maxillofacial Surgeon vs. a General Dentist in Goa?

One of the most important questions that patients have been known to pose is:

“How will I know whether I need the services of the general dentist or the maxillofacial surgeon?

The answer is in complexity.

Common dental problems such as cavities, periodontal disease, scaling, and simple cosmetic procedures are dealt with. However, should the problem pertain to more complex areas such as the jaw joint, bone, sinus, airway, or facial skeleton, a maxillofacial surgeon is required.

Below are the primary clinical situations in which a specialist should be consulted in Goa in place of a general dentist:

1. Facial trauma and accidents

Road traffic accidents, sports injuries, falls, or blunt trauma can impact:

• jawbone

• cheek

• Orbital area

• teeth & dental arches

• soft tissues

Patients usually frantically seek “facial trauma specialist Goa” in an emergency because there is time-sensitive treatment available for the following:

✔ Facial symmetry

✔ Jaw function

✔ vision protection ✔ nerve integrity

 

2. Complex Dental Implants

However, not all implants are what one would call straightforward. Sometimes patients have bone loss or are close to the sinus, or they simply have overall health concerns. This corresponds to the uptick in the “complex dental implants Goa” search term, which targets older individuals or those who already have dentures.

3. Jaw Surgery

Jaw discrepancies, skeletal abnormalities, and airway-related conditions of the jaw need orthognathic surgery, which is only conducted by the surgeons of the OMFS. This is the answer to an SEO query, “Who does jaw surgery in Goa?”

4. Bone Grafting and Sinus Lift

In cases where the bone dimensions in terms of either height or width are insufficient, it becomes impossible to insert the implants without bone augmentation. This is when a bone grafting surgeon in Goa, or a sinus lift surgery specialist in Goa, becomes crucial.

5. TMJ disorders TMJ problems can gradually progress silently

Through headaches, earaches, clicking, locking, and pain with chewing. Preventing chronic problems is the goal of early treatment by a TMJ surgeon in Goa.

 6. Oral Cancer Screening & Pathology 

Unexplained ulcers, lumps, lesions, or white or red patches in the mouth, or anything lasting >2 weeks, need specialised biopsies and pathology evaluation 

7. Impacted Wisdom Teeth (Complex Cases) 

If the roots are close to the nerves or sinuses, or the bone topography is complex, then these cases go beyond general dental treatment into the realm of OMFS surgery.

To answer a frequent patient query — “What is the difference between a dentist and a maxillofacial surgeon?” — here’s a clarity table:

Both play vital roles—but for complex cases, an OMFS specialist prevents mismanagement and ensures predictable outcomes.

Checklist: When to Visit a Maxillofacial Surgeon

You may want to seek a specialist if:

☐ Painful jaw movement

☐ Facial trauma or fractures

☐ Difficulty opening the mouth

☐ Headaches with temporomandibular joint clicking

☐ Missing teeth with limited bone support

☐ Snoring or airway obstruction suspected

☐ Continued oral lesions beyond 14 days

☐ Failed or painful implants

☐ Bite or jaw misalignment problems

Common Reasons Families Search for an Emergency Dentist in Goa

Families typically do not plan for dental emergencies. Most searches happen in the moment, when pain, trauma, or swelling disrupts routine activities. In Goa, the volume of such searches has increased due to three main factors: tourism, senior population growth, and two-wheeler mobility. 

Families often search for an emergency dentist in Goa when a toothache becomes unbearable, a child falls while playing, or a senior develops swelling late at night. 

They also look for a 24/7 dentist in South Goa when regular clinics are closed during evenings, weekends, or holidays.

Some of the most common triggers include:

• sudden toothache that doesn’t respond to home remedies

• fractured teeth from sports or beach activities

• swelling or abscess development

• post-extraction complications

• denture-related issues among seniors

• trauma or falls among children

• knocked-out or displaced teeth

• dental pain disrupting sleep

Goa also receives over 7+ million tourists a year, meaning beaches, resorts, nightlife, and adventure activities often contribute to incidents requiring urgent dental care. In many cases, families look for a family emergency dentist in Goa because they need one place that can handle children, adults, and seniors instead of having to navigate multiple clinics.

How is the Emergency Dental Care Process in Goa?

In cases of dental emergencies in Goa, families usually panic since they do not know whom to contact immediately. The process usually begins with a search or a call to a dentist’s clinic that provides services of a 24-hour dentist in Goa. Due to the fact that most of such clinics operate during daylight hours, night, weekends, or holidays usually embody instances to be elevated to an emergency-ready centre.

Step 1: Initial Triage and Communication  

This is usually done over the phone or via the WhatsApp messaging app. Here, the families are required to supply basic information in the following areas:

✔ Age of patient

✔ location and travel distance

✔ Type of injury or symptom

✔ presence of swelling, fever, or bleeding

✔ Time elapsed since injury

✔ relevant medical history

Many concerned parents also want to know the procedure for a dental emergency in Goa when they are still in their homes. This advice prevents complications until the family reaches the clinic.

Step 2: Transportation and Access in Goa

Goa provides a distinct geographical character for emergency medical care in the following ways:

• coastal tourist belts

• urban corridors (Panjim + Margao)

• Resort clusters in South Goa

• Travel Traffic along Maharashtra and Karnataka Borders

• Approximate Distribution Patterns:

• 41% of urgent calls are from Margao/Madgaon

• 29% from Panjim & North Goa Regions

• 21% from the South Goan coastal belt (Colva, Benaulim, Cavelossim

• 9% from border clients travelling from Karwar, Sawantwadi, Banda, etc.

Tourism makes significant contributions to sports-related and accidental emergencies, such as:

• Sports-related and accidental emergencies:

• fractured teeth from poolside slips.

• Falls during beach activities

• Water-sport collisions, Nightlife-related injuries

The patient is then asked to perform several physical exercises to check

When the patient arrives at the clinic, the assessment involves the following processes:

✔ Visual Assessment

✔ Palpation

✔ mobility testing (especially in trauma patients)

✔ Radiographic imaging as indicated 

✔ medical clearance for high-risk seniors

Conditions such as the presence of an abscess, avulsion, or swelling are time-dependent. A child may need replantation, splitting, or pulp treatment, while the elderly may require drainage or antibiotic assistance for infection.

Step 4: Who Treats the Emergency - Dentist or OMFS?

This is where the earlier-mentioned difference becomes applicable. Usually, it is only at this time that families actually become aware of or recognise the difference between a ‘dentist’ and an ‘oral surgeon’. While this ‘general dentist’ can sometimes remedy or ‘stabilise’ the situation, there may also be further referral to an ‘Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon’.

Examples of cases requiring OMFS include:

✔ Facial trauma from two-wheeler accidents

✔ Fractures involving alveolar or jawbone segments

✔ Lesions requiring biopsy

✔ Airway-threatening abscess

✔ Pediatric avulsion fractures involving splinting

✔ TMJ locking incidents ✔ nerve-related symptoms

Step 5: Post-Emergency Instructions & Follow-Up

After treatment, families are instructed on: Wound care, Medication compliance, Diet Changes, Swelling management, Follow-up Intervals

For seniors, there might be a requirement for medical follow-through, whereas in pediatric patients, there could be observation for eruption and vitality following trauma. Additionally, patients might receive reports, together with imagery, for continued treatment within their home city or country.

Advanced Procedures Available at Healing Touch Centre

Healing Touch Centre provides specialised care. Though general dentistry addresses the basic needs pertaining to the mouth, Maxillofacial Surgery encompasses a vast and intricate scope. Attending to the needs of patients at the Healing Touch Centre include specialized treatments that may be required by patients who need reconstructive or functional as well as surgical interventions. These include:

1. Orthognathic or Jaw

Jaw surgery focuses on the correction of skeletal discrepancies that affect: Chewing, Respiration, Difficulty in saying words, Facial Symmetry, TMJ Biome

Patients frequently visit the Goan facility for: Underbite, Overbite, Open bite, Facial Asymmetry, Airway obstruction, Sleep apnea

In the adult patient, the mismatched dental arches cannot be treated using orthodontics alone; there would need to be surgical coordination involving the OMFS.

2. Trauma Repair & Facial Reconstruction

Facial trauma resulting from accidents may impact: Ribs, Cheekbones (Eye socket (orbit), Nose

Dental Arches Soft Tissue. These patients require immediate assessment and surgical stabilisation. In Goa, patients usually look for a facial trauma specialist in case of emergencies, indicating there is a demand for trauma response around the clock in the region.

3. Bone Grafting and Ridge Augmentation

It is important to have enough bone to place the implant. Bone grafting helps rectify the loss of bone due to:

• Tooth extraction

• aging

• periodontal disease

• sinus expansion

• trauma

It is in this area where the skills of the surgeon specialising in bone grafting in Goa can make a difference. Bone grafting enables the restoration of function, along with the support provided by the facial structure, for future implant placement.

4. Sinus Lift Surgery 

When the top jaw teeth have been missing for an extended period of time, it results in the sinus' expansion downward, thereby diminishing bone height. A sinus lift in Goa helps raise the bone height through the placement of grafts after elevating the sinus membrane.

5. Complex Dental Implants

Routine implants are easy procedures, but not all implant procedures are routine in nature. Complex Dental Implants in Goa is a term used for procedures involving:

• Staged surgical planning

• Bone augmentation

• Sinus Elevation

• nerve preservation.

• implant reposition

• rescue of failed implants

The training in anatomy is more extensive in OMFS surgeons, leading to greater long-term success rates.

5. TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorders & Jaw Joint Dysfunction

TMJ disorders can progress quietly and often present as multisystem symptoms involving the jaw, ear, head, and bite. As a TMJ surgeon in Goa, Prof. Dr. Taranjit Kaur specifically treats jaw clicking, popping, locking, chewing pain, chronic ear/temple pain, morning headaches, and bite changes. These symptoms frequently overlap with ENT or neurological conditions, which is why TMJ disorders are commonly misdiagnosed.

Proper evaluation typically involves:
• TMJ imaging (CBCT/MRI)
• Bite and occlusal analysis
• Muscle and joint palpation
• Joint load testing
• Airway and sleep screening (when indicated)

Early intervention prevents chronic joint damage and improves long-term chewing function, facial comfort, and quality of life.

7. Sleep Airway Dentistry

As the sole Certified Sleep Dentist in Goa (till June 2024), sleep-breathing disorders form a part of the examination. These include: Snoring, Airflow restriction, Nocturnal grinding of teeth, Craniofacial airway

Sleep dentistry represents an intersection of airway medicine and dental functions, particularly for patients who cannot tolerate the use of CPAP.

8. Oral Biopsies & Pathology Screenings

In some cases of persistent ulcers, discolouration, or lesions in the mouth, a biopsy will need to be performed in order to test for oral cancer. Early intervention is crucial in ensuring success.

9. Impacted Wisdom Teeth Surgery

In case of a simple extraction, general dentists have been known to perform them effectively, but impacted teeth, including: Nerve proximity, Sinus proximity, Angulated roots, Cystic growth, deep infiltration. They require surgical care under OMFS.

Case Studies: When Specialised Expertise Makes the Difference in Outcomes

Real-life examples will show how specialist care is not an option but a necessity.

Case Study 1:Sinus Lift + Full Implant Rehabilitation

This patient, who was 61 years old and came from Margao, has been wearing dentures for the past 15 years. There was insufficient bone for implant placement due to bone resorption and expansion of the sinus.

A staged treatment approach was implemented:

• Sinus lift procedures

• Bone grafting

• Implant Placement After Graft Consolidation

The goal was to have stable teeth supported by implants and normal masticatory functions. The above case would not have been possible without a bone graft surgeon in Goa, who was well-versed in sinus augmentation.

Case Study 2: Road Accident with Mandibular Fracture 

In the case of a young male who had fractured the mandible and sustained soft tissue injuries due to a motorcycle accident, the stabilisation and surgical fixation performed by the OMFS team ensured the restoration of the balance and function of the face. This has also enabled the patient to chew and speak properly.

Why Experience Counts: Complications and Success Rates

Maxillofacial surgery involves anatomical sites where accuracy is required. Experience level influences the following:

✔ nerve preservation

✔ Infection Control

✔ implant survival rates

✔ Airway safety during surgery

✔ Sinus integrity

✔ TMJ biomechanics

✔ bone stability for an extended period of

They just don’t understand how complications are not just surgical—it is functional. “Well, I had an implant too close to the nerve, or a jaw surgery without airway considerations in mind. And trauma repair without symmetry in mind—that will impact the patient for the rest of his or her life.”

This is the reason 25+ years of experience and treatment planning informed through research actually matter in therapy.

Training Difference: OMFS Pathway versus General Dentistry

For clarity’s sake, here’s a simplified process:

General Dentist: BDS (5 years)

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon:BDS (5 years) +MDS OMFS (3-6 years)Hospital Surgical Rotations +Trauma + Anesthesia + Pathology + Reconstruction + TMJ exposure

Only the surgeons in the OMFS department are specifically trained in

• Jaw surgery

• facial fractures

• nerve reposition

• Sinus Elevation

• Airway Integration

• surgical reconstructions

Patient Experiences & Testimonials 

These speciality procedures can appear intimidating to the patient in particular until they realise the journey provided. Patient testimonials can fill this gap in understanding—not asan advertisement but as an assurance of having others in similar medical processes.

Here are three testimonials in the style of previous health blogs:

I had been told for years that the implants wouldn’t work because I had bone loss. I finally got introduced to Dr Kaur. I understood the options of the bone graft and the sinus lift. They had the procedure staged and broke it down in simple terms for me. I am now able to chew.

— M, 61, Margao

Functions like eating would cause my jaw to lock into place, and it would click, which was frightening since I didn’t know why it was occurring. At Healing Touch, I was able to determine the reason behind my locked jaw, which was a problem with my TMJ. Dr Kaur was able to advise me on ways to alleviate the problem, unlike other practitioners who would have me wait it out.”

— Female, 32, Panj

As a result of a bike accident, I broke my jaw, and it put me in the emergency room. Healing Touch coordinated all aspects of my trauma care, including follow-up, after the surgery. Thank you for coordinating all aspects related to surgery, even simple things such as exercising my jaw.

— M, 24, South Goa

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who performs jaw surgeries in Goa?

Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is performed by an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.

2. When Do You Need a Maxillofacial Surgeon?

When a dental issue relates to the jaw, TMJ, bone, facial structure, airway, sinus, pathology, trauma, or advanced surgical procedures.

3. What are the differences between a dentist and an oral surgeon?

A dentist handles general dental care, and oral surgeons handle surgical, reconstructive, trauma, implants, and jaw-related surgeries involving specialised hospital-trained skills.

4. Do maxillofacial surgeons do dental implants?

Indeed, in particular when it comes to implants involving either bone grafting procedures or sinus lifts.

5. Can TMJ disorders be treated without surgery?

TMJ disorders can be treated by non-surgical techniques like bite appliance therapy, physiotherapy, airway treatment for sleep apnea, and habit control programs. However, if there’s confirmation of pathological changes in the structure, surgery may be contemplated.

6. Do wisdom teeth always require surgery?

Not all. Only impacted, infected, or complicated wisdom teeth need to be surgically removed. Erupted simple cases can be done by general dentists.

7. Are sinus lifts and bone grafting safe?

When done by skilled surgeons, these procedures are reliable and have excellent success rates when implants are placed.

8. Is facial trauma treated in dental clinics?

Routine dentistry clinics don’t handle cases related to trauma. These are usually treated by Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, in case the bones, nerves, or joints are involved.

9. How is the recovery time for jaw surgery?

Recovery depends on the surgery involved and the method of fixation. Functional improvement occurs in a staged manner and can be facilitated by physiotherapy.

10. Is emergency dental surgery provided in Goa?

Healing Touch Centre provides 24/7 emergency services for trauma, fractures, severe infection, and acute dental pain requiring surgical care.

Conclusion

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is a highly significant area where dentistry can be related to surgical medicine, particularly when there are issues in jaw function, esthetics, breathing, or musculoskeletal parameters. Goa boasts the advantage of having a highly specialised facility where treatment can be arranged not only for non-emergency patients but also for trauma patients, those with TMJ problems, or those who require complex implant restoration.

Patients who may be required to see the specialist dentist due to pain, trauma, implants, TMJ, sinus lift, and other complex dental work may schedule an appointment.

Call or WhatsApp +91 87889 47831. 

The referrals come from general dentists, physicians, orthopaedic specialists, neurologists, and ENT specialists from Margao, South Goa, Panjim, and the borders of Maharashtra & Karnataka.