Faces make us human. I applied to dental school to pursue a field where science, art, and working with my hands intersected. In the second year of dental school I realized that I wanted to take the intersection of those interests deeper by working on the face, which led me to pursue training in oral and maxillofacial surgery. After completing six years of residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery, I am honored to join a profession that allows me to do what I love most: helping patients feel like themselves again.
To me, many things may prevent one from feeling “like yourself.” Common reasons include pain, function, aesthetic appearance, and poor sleep. Some of the ways I help patients return to normalcy include tooth extractions, dental implant placement, corrective jaw surgery (often called orthognathic surgery), procedures that promote better sleep by opening the airway, TMJ treatment, pathology, and cosmetic facial augmentation.
I knew I wanted to move back home to DFW following my training in Florida. I was grateful for several interviews at reputable offices in the area but felt that I had not found the best fit for me. So, when I first met and shadowed Dr. Dean, I knew of his surgical expertise from colleagues, but it was immediately apparent that there was something more that made his practice different. Beyond surgical excellence, what was immediately obvious was that everybody was happy to be in the office. Everybody. To this day, it is unlike any other clinic setting I’ve ever seen. The staff, assistants, and Dr. Dean were calm, content, confident, and relaxed – happy to be there all day long. Even more impactful was that patients were at ease and genuinely happy to be in the office, whether they were catching up with Dr. Dean during a checkup or going through final questions before a big procedure. Eventually it dawned on me: people are happy to see Dr. Dean because he is genuinely happy to see and care for them. The entire office works as a positive and single-minded unit, keeping the patient first, which is necessary to provide a great experience. The conversations frequently sounded like friends catching up. In joining Advanced Implant and Oral Surgery, I aim to continue the culture of care and excellence that Dr. Dean has established, and I consider it an honor and privilege to do so.
Seeing an oral surgeon for a procedure is an anxiety-inducing event for many people. Where some providers might see anxiety as an obstacle to overcome, we take pride in taking time with patients, getting to know them, and working at their speed and comfort level to provide a pleasant, stress-free experience and first-class results. We work with each patient to develop the best way for them to be treated in the safest, most comfortable setting possible. For this reason, we are proud to offer local anesthesia, nitrous, IV sedation, and general anesthesia (which occurs in an operating room with an anesthesiologist).
I take great joy and satisfaction in cases requiring collaboration with patients and other providers. After meticulously developing a plan for their care together, the opportunity to see a phenomenal outcome that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lasting is what makes my job so great. For this reason, I am most interested in implant placement, orthognathic surgery, and surgical procedures that facilitate and enhance orthodontic treatment.
My wife Karlee and I were classmates in dental school. We started dating in the last six months of dental school, marrying a few years later in 2021. She is a passionate and talented clinician, and I have deeply enjoyed watching her succeed in her career. One year after marrying, we welcomed our son Henry into the world, who has been a constant source of joy. When we aren’t discussing dentistry, we love to read, tend to the plants and flowers in the yard, eat with friends, laugh, and share our lives with Henry.
Education:
- High School – Euless Trinity High School, 2010
- Undergraduate – Baylor University, 2014
- Dental Degree – Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry, 2018
- Medical Degree – University of Florida College of Medicine, 2022
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency – University of Florida, Jacksonville, 2018-2024