Dr. Shaun Rai truly loves being an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. A typical day for Dr. Rai is primarily filled with office-based oral surgery, which includes removal of wisdom teeth, surgical management of impacted teeth, dental implant surgery, bone grafting and delivery of the highest-quality outpatient anesthesia in a safe, comfortable manner. His practice of 19 years is located in Virginia Beach.
“The best part of what I do is the unique combination of dentistry, medicine, anesthesia and highly specialized surgery of the mouth, face and jaws,” says Dr. Rai. “That’s what makes up the day-to-day life of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. I find it to be fun and challenging to help our patients every day.”
Dr. Rai started his path to becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon after graduating from Trinity College in Connecticut and advancing to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. After completing his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., he moved to Coastal Virginia in 2004. He and his wife had liked the region for a long time and were fortunate enough that they both had professional opportunities that brought them here.
In addition to running his own busy practice, Dr. Rai is a member of numerous local and national medical and dental societies and is an attending surgeon at Sentara Leigh Hospital and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Dr. Rai is a diplomate of both the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Rai is also committed to humanitarian efforts. He has volunteered his time and expertise as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to the less fortunate at the Park Place Health and Dental Clinic in Norfolk, as well as through the Virginia Dental Association Mission of Mercy programs. Recently he has also begun volunteering with the Special Olympics.
When asked about his secret to success, Dr. Rai is very straightforward. “There are four things that helped me in my career and contributed to the growth of my practice. The first is doing the highest quality surgery in a clean, comfortable environment. The second component is my highly trained and specialized staff, many of whom have been with me for 10 years or more. The third key is communication. Clear communication with patients—letting them know what their different treatment options are, what the risks and benefits of each option are, being really clear on what they can expect pre-operatively and post-operatively is important. We call our patients to check on them during the recovery process. We let our patients know that my experienced team and I are there every step of the way for them and their families. Finally, I am committed to practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery at the highest level of ethics and integrity. Very simply, treating patients with their best interests in mind at all times.”
