Dr. Scott A. Puckett, DDS, is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and one of the only oral surgeons in Ohio practicing a fully holistic, biological approach to surgery. With more than 25 years in practice, he is known for a natural, minimally-synthetic protocol that uses the body’s own healing capacity — and patients travel from across the country to see him for it.
About Dr. Puckett
Dr. Puckett earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan, completed a general practice residency at the University of Virginia, and trained in oral and maxillofacial surgery (including pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery) through the St. John/Macomb Hospital system and Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He has been in practice since 2000 and has led Wilmington Oral Surgery in Wilmington, Ohio since 2007.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), with active hospital staff privileges and membership in the Ohio Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, and the Dayton Dental Society.
Around 2020–2021, Dr. Puckett began reshaping his practice around a biological (holistic) philosophy. His conviction is simple: the body is designed to heal itself, and surgery should work with that capacity rather than override it. As he puts it, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body — if the mouth isn’t healthy, it’s hard for the rest of the body to be.
The human body is meant to heal itself. If we use natural means to help the body heal, we can decrease pain, swelling, and inflammation, reduce the need for pain medications, and get better, more predictable outcomes.
Dr. Scott Puckett, DDS
His holistic & biological approach
Dr. Puckett’s biologic protocol is built around minimizing synthetic materials and supporting natural healing at every stage of surgery. It includes:
- Atraumatic tooth removal and thorough site decontamination (including ozone and Manuka honey)
- Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) — using the patient’s own blood to speed bone and tissue healing
- Natural recovery support to reduce reliance on narcotic pain medication
- Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and IV vitamin C to support healing
- Metal-free zirconia implants for patients who want a non-metal option
- Dentin autografting — using a patient’s own extracted tooth as a bone graft
You can explore each of these in depth in the Holistic Dentistry section, where Dr. Puckett explains his approach and what the evidence shows.
Why patients travel to see him
Interest in a natural, biologically-minded approach to oral surgery has grown quickly — especially among people who are wary of unnecessary medications, addictive pain drugs, and synthetic materials. Because that demand is national, not local, patients travel to Wilmington from across the country, and Dr. Puckett’s practice welcomes out-of-town patients. His work is increasingly referenced in patient communities and discussions as a destination for holistic oral surgery.
Credentials & training
- Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) — University of Michigan
- General Practice Residency — University of Virginia
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training — St. John/Macomb Hospital system; pediatric OMS, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
- Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Fellow, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS)
- In practice since 2000; Wilmington Oral Surgery since 2007
Contact Wilmington Oral Surgery
To ask about a consultation with Dr. Puckett — including for out-of-town and traveling patients:
- Phone: 937-382-8020
- Address: 1665 Alex Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177
- Request an appointment: wilmingtonoralsurgery.com/schedule
- Practice website: wilmingtonoralsurgery.com
Dr. Puckett contributes his clinical expertise to BetterSmiles as a medical reviewer and author. Wilmington Oral Surgery is his independent practice; contacting the practice is between you and their team.
Articles by Dr. Puckett on BetterSmiles
Dr. Puckett authors and reviews BetterSmiles’ coverage of holistic and biological dentistry. His articles will be linked here as they publish — starting with the Holistic Dentistry hub.