Jarron Tawzer, DMD

Endless aspirations

What can you tell us about your background?

I grew up in Idaho, Utah, New Jersey, and Oregon. I was born in the middle of two older sisters and two younger sisters. I fell in love with sports as a child and especially football. In high school, I realized that playing in the NFL was very unlikely, so I began focusing on scholastics. I met my wife in college, and she has traveled with me through countless states pursuing my education and CE addiction.

I graduated from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). After my 3rd year, I had completed all my clinical requirements, which allowed me to attend and participate in the specialty clinics. I got vast exposure to orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery. I quickly ruled out any desire to further my education in ortho or endo. I was not only intrigued in surgery, but also fascinated in the life-changing aspect of restorations. I knew which direction I needed to navigate and continue on that same journey today.

When did you become a specialist, and why?

I am currently working on my credentialing as an Associate Fellow with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and as a Diplomate with the American Board of Oral Implantology.

Is your practice limited solely to implants, or do you practice other types of dentistry?

I own a general practice that I purchased in 2016. It has seven operatories and eight staff members. When I bought the practice, no implants were being placed or restored. Since then, I have transformed my practice to focus on dental implants and cosmetic dentistry. We place a large amount of implants each month and do so in a crown-down approach allowing esthetics and proper function to dictate implant placement.

Why did you decide to focus on implant dentistry?

Implants are inspiring in their concept and practicality. Dental implants replace root structures that have been lost and successfully mimic our natural oral condition once integrated and restored correctly. They require surgical skills while maintaining restorative ideology. I never get bored when doing implant surgery or surgery in general.

Do your patients come through referrals?

Our practice does no marketing or advertising. Our patients are referred by friends or family.

How long have you been practicing implant dentistry, and what systems do you use?

I have been placing implants since 2015. I have placed many implant brands in my quest to finding what I love. I have personally placed MIS, Straumann^®, Nobel Biocare™, Hahn™, BioHorizons^®, Implant Direct™, MegaGen, and Zimmer. I currently place mainly MegaGen AnyRidge^® and BioHorizons^® (both of which I love).

What training have you undertaken?

My genesis of my training in implantology began my 4th year of dental school. I finished all my clinical requirements after my 3rd year. Consequently, I began shadowing, assisting, and even participating in the placement of implants with the oral surgery residents. I became enamored with the placement and restoration of dental implants. Once practicing, I instantly began attending every implant CE course I could find. My training included Straumann courses, WhiteCap Institute, Implant Pathway, and various others. I am currently in the process of credentialing as an Associate Fellow with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and as a Diplomate with the American Board of Oral Implantology.

Top 10 favorites
1. Carestream IO scanner
2. Carestream CBCT
3. Penguin®/Osstell® ISQ
4. Acteon Piezotome® Cube
5. KaVo NOMAD™ intraoral X-ray
6. Aseptico implant motor
7. MegaGen AnyRidge® implants
8. Formlabs 3B printer
9. PRF centrifuge
10. DIT-USA Titanium PDL elevator set

Who has inspired you?

The list of inspirations in my dental journey are endless. Dr. Justin Moody (Implant Pathway), Dr. Courtney Dee Venable, and Dr. Josh Nagao are a few that continue to inspire me daily. All my fellow mentors/colleagues at Implant Pathway inspire me as they continue to move implantology in the right direction. I am a firm believer that to be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your practice?

Patient satisfaction. Without a doubt, seeing patients smile with gratitude is the most satisfying aspect of what I do. It is easy to get distracted in the administration, financials, and stress of running a large and successful practice. Changing lives and seeing results make the difference.

Professionally, what are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the reputation and trust we have developed in our community.

What do you think is unique about your practice?

My practice is always evolving. I continually change and/or alter the way things are done with the goal of progression. If I try something, and it doesn’t work, I switch. If something fails, I try to examine why. If something succeeds fantastically, I consider why. Change and progression are vital to dental surgery and healthcare as a whole.

What has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is the quest to be literate to the ever-changing technology aspect of dentistry. Every day, implant dentistry is changing. New technology and materials are constantly evolving. It is a challenge to maintain and adapt to the advances. I feel an immense pressure to understand and learn new products, procedures, materials, protocols, and technology that all promise better results or ease of administration. Although many advancements accomplish what they claim, some do not.

What would you have been if you didn’t become a dentist?

As the only boy in my family, I was destined to take over my father’s very successful construction business. Many thought I was insane for not continuing in the family business, but my heart was always rooted (no pun intended) in dentistry. Although dentistry has its ups and downs, I have never regretted my decision made long ago.

What is the future of implants and dentistry?

I predict the future is to incorporate more technology and 3D printing. We have already implemented 3D printing of PMMA temporary prosthetics. I believe we will see many more products and equipment designed around immediate design and fabrication around implant prosthetics. I predict we will continue our advancement and incorporation of PRF/PRP membrane and graft. I would like more basic knowledge of implant dentistry among the general population. I still spend much of my time explaining basic concepts and fundamentals of dental implants that I hope will become more common knowledge in the future.

What are your top tips for maintaining a successful specialty practice?

The top tips for maintaining a successful implant practice is to get educated and have good results/treatment. Patients don’t usually complain about their bill if they love their results. I also believe good results can only come after a solid education and training.

What advice would you give to a budding implant dentist?

Never stop learning and surrounding yourself with like-minded dentists. I would recommend starting with basic implant courses and advancing to more comprehensive implant placing courses. Every great implantologist that I associate with all began with their first implant placement.

What are your hobbies, and what do you do in your spare time?

My wife and I have three daughters and one son. I love being outdoors. I love to ski, hunt, fish, and play outside with my kids.