Mr. Christopher A. Burns, DDS

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Get to know Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Christopher A. Burns, who serves patients in Indiana.

A well-respected, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Burns practices a wide scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with expertise ranging from wisdom tooth removal and dental implant placement to bone grafting and facial injury repair. As the owner & operator of Geist Oral & Facial Surgery, he serves patients at his offices in Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana.

“Our mission is to have a compassionate, service-oriented practice that provides state-of-the-art oral and maxillofacial surgery to our patients. We pride ourselves on delivering quality, personalized care in an enjoyable environment” as stated on his website. 

Originally from Richmond, Indiana, Dr. Burns received his undergraduate degree in biology from Indiana University in 1981. Four years later, in 1985, he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine. Upon completion of his dental school studies, he was elected into the OKU Honorary Dental Society. 

Holding his dental degree, he completed a one-year General Practice Residency in the United States Navy in San Diego, California. Dr. Burns went on to serve a total of seven years of active duty as a Naval Dental Officer, with tours in the Philippines and Newport, Rhode Island. He then completed a four-year residency in oral & maxillofacial surgery at Indiana University Medical Center in 1996. 

Immediately following this residency, he entered into private practice in the Geist area. He also joined his wife, Jill, in a part-time practice in Richmond, Indiana. He currently practices in both of these locations.

To keep abreast of the latest developments in his specialty, Dr. Burns has always exceeded the continuing education requirements of the State of Indiana. He also maintains current certification in Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, he is a member of the International Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Association, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, the Indiana Dental Association, the Indiana Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Indianapolis District Dental Society, and the OKU Honorary Dental Society.

In his professional experience, Dr. Burns is affiliated with Community Hospitals (North & East), Indiana University Health (Methodist-IU-Riley), Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, and Reid Memorial Hospital.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery specializes in surgery of the face, mouth, and jaws. It is an internationally recognized surgical specialty. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dental specialists who treat conditions, defects, injuries, and esthetic aspects of the mouth, teeth, jaws, and face. Their training involves a four-year graduate degree in dentistry and the completion of a minimum four-year hospital surgical residency program.

In 2010, Dr. Burns founded the InDent Study Club, whose mission is to elevate the knowledge and skill of the art and science of dentistry. The study club has since flourished, and is proud to count among its members dozens of well-respected dental professionals in central and east central Indiana.

As a dedicated husband and father of three, Dr. Burns has many interests outside of oral surgery. He enjoys sports, music, as well as the performing and culinary arts.

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