Dr. Yash Merchant | Oral and Maxillofacial Consultant Surgeon
“A core philosophy that guides my decision-making is that I treat the patient like I would treat any close family member. Empathy ensures we care about the patient comprehensively rather than just their diagnosis.”
Maxillofacial surgeons treat fractures of the jaws and can be thought of as ‘Architects of the Face.’ They specialize in complex dental implants, surgical removal of ‘wisdom’ teeth, and unusually positioned teeth. They undertake high-risk dental extractions in medically compromised patients after optimizing them. Maxillofacial surgery is a three-year residency in India and serves as a bridge between dental colleagues and medical counterparts.
An acknowledged oral and maxillofacial consultant surgeon at Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. Yash Merchant’s journey began with dentistry, and since then he has always been interested in surgery. The adrenaline rush that came with it propelled him to further pursue post-graduation in maxillofacial surgery. Not content with resting on laurels, he pursued multiple fellowships in facial trauma, oral cancer, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and minimally invasive robotic surgery, gaining credentialing from the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh).
For the edition of “The Most Admired Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in India, 2025,” we had the opportunity of inviting none other than the dignitary Dr. Yash Merchant. It was a privilege for us to thoroughly view the chapters of his inspiring professional journey so far.
How Did It All Begin?
The professional as well as entrepreneurial journey of Dr. Yash Merchant is intertwined with personal experiences. As a budding dentist himself, he sustained a mandibular fracture while traveling on a two-wheeler. The maxillofacial surgeon then, set it right perfectly, enabling him to return to function promptly with no subsequent jaw issues.
After residency, he assisted surgeons who managed the entire spectrum of head, face, and neck with a passion for doing much more than ‘teeth and titanium.’ Quite early in his career, he made two defining decisions. The first one was that he would persist and become expertly trained in the full scope of his specialty. The second was that once proficiently trained, he would not allow the system to limit his scope.
Working Closely With Groundbreaking Treatments, Techniques, & Technologies
Dr. Yash Merchant has patented an innovative mouth-opening device for physiotherapy for patients suffering from ‘trismus’ or inability to open their jaws effectively. This limitation may be due to spasms, surgery, or even fibrosis. In indicated cases, one requires brief mouth-opening exercises. The devices available in the market were either costly, made of flimsy material, or uncomfortable. He developed a cost-effective mouth-opening device with durable material and customizable plates to improve patient compliance and comfort. This innovation patent has recently been published by the Indian Patent Office. Currently, he is also working on tissue-engineered mucosal constructs for the reconstruction of defects in the oral cavity without donor site morbidity.
Participating in Initiatives for Making Oral and Maxillofacial Healthcare Mass-Accessible
Dr. Yash Merchant speaks about the pivotal role of the Government of India in introducing schemes like the CGHS, ECHS, and Ayushman Bharat or the MJPJAY (in Maharashtra) that allow all sections of society and diverse communities to avail healthcare, surgery, and treatment at affordable costs. He is optimistic and happy about the fact that several hospitals that offer these schemes never refuse a patient under them. In addition to the efforts made by the government, Dr. Yash Merchant also liaises with the local Rotaries and charities to ensure patients outside these schemes get the treatment and dignity they deserve, in times of distress.
Mentoring Young Professionals in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dr. Yash Merchant says that, “Educators are the only people who lose sleep over other people’s children.’ Besides offering my services across several corporate hospitals in the city, I also actively teach and mentor students at Dr. D.Y. Patil Teaching Hospital in Pune. I strive to impart structured, targeted didactics to garner interest and competency among young surgical trainees. I am committed to mentoring and training the next generation of surgeons. My goal is to leave a lasting impact—not just in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, but on the lives and confidence of people around the world. This specialty isn’t just about operating on faces; it’s about restoring identity, function, and dignity. Behind every procedure is a person who wants to smile without pain, speak clearly, or be seen for who they truly are.
Thoughts on the Evolution of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The future of maxillofacial surgery will be marked by precision, regeneration, and intelligent intervention. Maxillofacial surgery across the globe is poised to undergo a radical transformation, driven by rapid advancements in biotechnology, regenerative medicine, and armamentarium. What was once the realm of scalpels and titanium plates is evolving into an era defined by precision tissue engineering, AI-guided diagnostics, and minimally invasive interventions.
One of the most anticipated frontiers is 3D bioprinting of bone and soft tissue. Surgeons may soon replace facial structures not with metal implants but with custom-printed grafts made from the patient’s own stem cells, promoting natural regeneration and integration. This shift promises a future where “restoration is indistinguishable from the original.”
A pioneer in the field, Dr.Macchiarini claims, “In the near future, we won’t be just fixing faces—we’ll be growing them.”
AI will further redefine preoperative planning and intra-operative precision. With real-time imaging, machine learning-assisted diagnosis, and predictive modeling, complex reconstructions could be simulated virtually with pinpoint accuracy, enhancing outcomes and reducing risks.
Robotic microsurgery, guided by haptic feedback and AI, will become standard in delicate craniofacial procedures. These systems will allow for interventions at scales and angles once inaccessible to human hands, opening new possibilities in nerve repair and tumor excisions.
Augmented reality will become a staple in the operating room, allowing surgeons to overlay digital reconstructions onto live anatomy, making complex surgeries faster and safer. Training will shift to immersive VR platforms, democratizing high-level surgical expertise across the globe.
