On Being a Dentist
Dentistry means the world to me!
My parents said that when I was four years old, I told them I wanted to be a dentist. And, honestly, I never had a “Plan B.” Throughout my early childhood into early adulthood, my goal never wavered.
Now? Now I’m living my childhood dream, caring for wonderful people and looking out for their health, wellbeing, and smiles!
Approach to Dental Care
As a dentist, I appreciate the opportunity to interact with people of all ages, each with their own experiences and stories, and to learn from them. My patients are fascinating individuals: as no two people are the same, no two teeth are exactly the same, and no two dental treatments are identical, either.
With each patient, I take my time to learn what they want (and, just as importantly, what they do not want), and to understand their concerns. Instead of dictating treatment, I design an approach that addresses the person’s clinical needs and works with their life. I review the proposed approach with my patient, discussing what I recommend and why, as well as the pros and cons of different options and answering all of their questions. In this way I am able to guide the individual to make informed decisions and help them take control of their smile’s health.
That is important: people deserve to be informed, to understand what’s happening, to feel secure in moving forward with treatment. It is also key to building trust and setting people at ease. I want each of my patients to be comfortable, to relax in the chair, and to always be confident in the care my team and I provide.
My hope is that each person thinks of an upcoming appointment with smiles, knowing they’re going to be spending time with friends!
Education and Ongoing Learning
I grew up Germantown, in West Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science. Remaining at UT, in the College of Dentistry in Memphis, I then received my Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) in 2003.
Following dental school, I was accepted into a post-doctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency through UT, Memphis. This rigorous and challenging training covered all aspects of general dentistry, with a focus on dental implant care.
Completion of my residency was not the end of my dental education. Being a great dentist requires a lifelong commitment to learning. I seek out and participate in various continuing education opportunities throughout the year.
In addition to participating in local affiliates of the Spear Study Club in the Nashville area, I am a graduate of the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington. While I have completed the latter’s nine course curriculum focused on aesthetic, occlusion, and restorative dentistry, I continue to attend the Kois Center’s yearly symposium.
Beyond the Practice
Family is central to my life. My wife, Aileen, and I met in Memphis while attending dental school. We tied the knot the summer after graduation and chose to live in the Nashville area to split the difference between her hometown of Greeneville in East Tennessee and mine, in Germantown. In 2004, we fell in love with the Mount Juliet community and swiftly knew that here is where we’d raise our children and build my dental practice.
As for those children, we have two very active sons, Grant and Hudson, who love to play baseball, basketball, and golf. They both play the guitar, too. Like many of the families I see and treat, Aileen and I spend a lot of time supporting the boys’ activities and getting them to their various sporting events around town. An added bonus of living in Mount Juliet and practicing family dentistry is running into my patients and their families when out and about!
When I have a bit of spare time, I enjoy exercising (not enough, though) and golfing, along with swimming, boating, and winding down on Old Hickory Lake.
