I love every aspect of dentistry, from the functional beauty of a perfectly harmonious smile to smoothly contoured gums. I thrive on helping my patients eliminate pain and gain self-confidence with their smiles. I get the simple pleasure of being able to educate patients on the multitude of options that exist in dentistry. By learning about patients, and their own personal goals, whether they are physical, emotional, or financial goals, we can custom-design a plan to achieve their desired personal level of oral health.
Every day, I find it exciting to engage with patients on their own level. I appreciate how patients let me be a part of their lives. Dentistry to me is more than just fixing a tooth. That tooth is a part of a unique individual who has a family, friends, and a life outside of our office. I count it an absolute honor that our patients continue to not only trust us with their own care, but to give us countless referrals as well.
I grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, but moved to Georgia in 1993. I currently reside in Hoschton. After completing dental school and my residency, I moved back to the northeast Atlanta area to be close to family. I have lived in the Mall of Georgia region since 2002 when I started my practice.
I’ve been married to the love of my life, Allison, since 2001. We have two boys, Caleb and Daniel, who keep us plenty active when we’re not seeing patients. Aside from two boys that make plenty of noise in the house, we have two Labrador Retrievers and one white cat named Frosty. When I’m not studying, reading, or learning about dentistry, I enjoy golf, playing sports with the boys, watching movies with my wife, UGA football, Krispy Kreme Donuts, and anything that involves traveling to put my toes in a sandy beach.
I have been in practice in Buford, directly across from the Mall of Georgia, since October 2002. We started small, and strive to stay as small as possible to maintain the level of customer service that each and every patient desires and deserves. In March 2017, we acquired the office of Drs. Jones and Potter, and have expanded our horizons into the Hamilton Mill area to love their patients as our own. I have surrounded myself with a team of people that shares my passion for people, attention to detail, and excellent oral health. We take a very simple approach to dentistry: treat people the way you want to be treated.
Education and ExperienceI graduated Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, and began my college career at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. I transferred into the University of Georgia, where I graduated in 1996 with a degree in chemistry as a Presidential Scholar. I attended the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry and graduated in 2001 as the first dental student to restore a dental implant, and was thus recognized by the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
Following dental school, I ventured to the sunny beaches of St. Petersburg, where I completed my advanced education in general dentistry with the University of Florida in 2002. In 2014, I finished a mini-residency in dental sleep medicine with Tufts University School of Dentistry in Boston, and am currently working towards Diplomate status.
Continuing EducationI complete twice the number of continuing education hours mandated by state boards, because it is absolutely critical to stay atop of the latest trends in dentistry. It is not necessarily essential to have the latest gadgets, but to be informed of the latest techniques, tests, or materials that will best benefit each individual patient is obligatory.
I am affiliated with the Spencer Study Club, Dawson Academy, Schuster Center for Professional Development, and the Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry, which is at the very center of our philosophy for dentistry: to ensure that every restoration, big or small, is ideally aesthetic and completely functional. I am currently licensed to practice dentistry in Georgia and Florida.
I have been mentored by some of the greatest clinical professionals in dentistry, and have a thorough understanding of how TMJ affects not only the jaw joint, but also the surrounding muscles, teeth, gums, and extending into the upper back. I am privileged to have an excellent relationship with many physicians, sleep physicians, chiropractors, and ENTs and am a referral source for often misdiagnosed earaches and migraines.
Commitment to CommunityI’m involved with the Hebron Dental Clinic, which serves missionaries and those in need in the Gwinnett County area, and I volunteer time at Cross Pointe Church at Mill Creek, where I am a puppeteer for the pre-K department. I love giving back to the community because the community has given so much to me, both personally and professionally. I have been blessed with skills and abilities to care for people and their dental needs, and to whom much is given, much is required.
I truly embrace the concept of making people smile from the inside out. It is my personal goal to be a part of both of those aspects of every person I have the privilege of encountering, whether it’s in or outside of our office.
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