Panos Christopoulos is a specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with over 30 years of experience in private practice across Athens, Rome, and Larnaca. He earned his DDS from the University of Athens in 1984 and completed a postgraduate program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the same university. He trained in General Surgery at Asklipion Hospital and in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at KAT Accident Hospital in Athens. In 1993, he obtained his Diploma of Specialization in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and later pursued research at UCLA School of Dentistry as a Visiting Research Associate, also completing the Oral Surgery Preceptorship Program. He holds a PhD in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of Athens. His academic career spans over two decades at the University of Athens, where he served as a Clinical Instructor, Lecturer, and Assistant Professor in the OMFS Clinic, working at Evangelismos Hospital and P. and A. Kyriakou Children’s Hospital. He has authored over 40 publications in scientific journals and delivered more than 200 congress presentations, including over 60 as an invited speaker. He has also been an instructor in numerous masterclasses and workshops. He is an active member of professional associations, including the Hellenic Association for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, and the International College of Dentists.
Oral surgery procedures are often required during the clinical practice of Pediatric Dentistry. There are cases, such as extractions of ancylosed deciduous, or permanent teeth, which the well-trained pediatric dentist is able to execute with success, but the majority of them should be performed by a specialized oral and maxillofacial /oral surgeon.
Surgical extraction of impacted third molar germs, in the age of 14-16 years is the most common pediatric oral surgery procedure, while surgical exposure of impacted permanent teeth (usually canines) is also very frequent. Treatment of different types of cysts (apical,dentigerous, keratocysts, traumatic etc) and benign tumors (odontomas, traumatic fibromas, papilomas etc) is often needed in children. Surgical removal of labial or lingual frenums is performed in many occasions.
Fractures of the jaws, clefts and malignant tumors are encountered in children and their treatment requires hospitalization in an Oral and Maxillofacial unit.
The aim of this presentation is to discuss the surgical procedures performed in pediatric oral surgery. Possible complications and their treatment will also be examined. Indications and contraindications of each procedure will be presented, and different techniques will be explained in details. The need for deep sedation or general anesthesia in selected cases will also be discussed.