Meet Dr. Austin Gaal

Oral Surgeon in Kirkland

Diplomate | American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Dr. Austin Gaal is a fellowship-trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon who practices the full scope of the specialty (including dental implants, complicated dental extractions, orthognathic surgery, and trauma) with special focus on cleft lip and palate primary and secondary surgical management.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Gaal completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) at the University of Washington. He completed his fellowship in cleft and craniofacial surgery at the University of Oklahoma under Drs. Kevin Smith and Paul Tiwana, with special emphasis managing children born with cleft and craniofacial differences.

Returning to Seattle, Washington in 2019, Dr. Gaal joined Drs. Wang and Amini at Cascadia Oral and Facial Surgery.  He is one of the clinical assistant professors in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training program at the University of Washington.

Dr. Gaal is member of two cleft teams: The Puget Sound Cleft and Complex Sleep clinic and the Yakima Cleft team at Children’s Village. He maintains a high-volume cleft practice providing both primary and secondary cleft surgical and perioperative care for both children and adults born with cleft differences. He serves at several hospitals in the area including Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Evergreen Health Medical Center, and Yakima Memorial.

Engagement with cleft international mission work is also a keen focus of Dr. Gaal. He usually participates in at least two international surgical trips per year, and he works with Free To Smile, Tess Unlimited, and Healing The Children.

Dr. Gaal is proud father of three children.

Dr. Gaal is accepting new adult and pediatric patients for general and complex oral and maxillofacial procedures including primary and secondary cleft lip and palate surgery, orthognathic surgery, and dental extractions.

Education

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, NYC
Doctor of Dental Surgery

University of Washington, WA
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Certificate

University of Oklahoma, OK
Fellowship in Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery

PUBLICATIONS

 JOURNALS:

1. Gaal A, Bailey B, Patel Y, Smiley N, Dodson T, Kim D, Dillon J. Limiting Antibiotics when Managing Mandible Fractures May Not Increase Infection Risk. J Oral and Maxillofac Surg 74:2008-2018, 2016.
2. Gaal A, Chisholm K, Egbert M. How Rare Is an Oral Presentation of Myeloid Sarcoma in the Infant?  J Oral and Maxillofac Surg 76:561-568, 2018.
3. Gaal A, Basiaga ML, Zhao D, Egbert M. Pediatric Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis of the Mandible: Seattle Children’s Hospital 22-patient experience. Pediatric Rheumatology 18:4, 2020.

CHAPTERS:

1. OMS Reference Study Guide: 4th ed. Resident Organization American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. 2016. 2015-2016 ROAAOMS Executive Committee: Hammer DA, Covello PA, Read-Fuller AM, Lawler ME, Shakoori P, Zastrow SN, Bruno EK, Burk TF, Gaal A.
2. Gaal A. Pediatric Anesthesia Update for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Selective Readings in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 26.1, 2019.
3. Yen S, Gaal A, Smith KS. Orthodontic and Surgical Principles for Distraction Osteogenesis in Children with Pierre-Robin Sequence. Orthodontics for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Patient, Part II. Elsevier 2020.  – in publication

INVITATIONAL LECTURES, COURSES, AND SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS

2017                Clinical and Scientific Innovations in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chicago, IL

Limiting Antibiotics when Managing Mandible Fractures May Not Increase Infection Risk

2018                American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Chicago, IL

                        Is There a Role for Outpatient Surgery in the Cleft and Craniofacial Patient in the Age of Efficiency and Cost Reduction?

2018                American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Chicago, IL

                        Ensuring Safety and Managing Major Anesthetic Complications in the Pediatric Craniofacial Patient

2019                Pediatrics Research Day, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK

Virtual Surgical Planning in Children with Craniofacial Differences

2019                OMS Grand Rounds, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Alveolar Cleft Reconstruction for the OMS

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

2019                Limiting Antibiotics When Managing Orthognathic Patients May Not Increase Infection Risk