Get to Know Your Doctor: Q&A with Dr. Lee

Choosing the right dental implant center means more than finding a place that offers the latest technology. It means finding a place with highly-trained dental surgeons and a support staff that puts patients first. As the Medical Director of Cumberland Surgical Arts, Dr. George S. Lee creates a safe and caring environment for patients.

George S. Lee, MD, DDS attended Dental School at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois and completed Medical School at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. At Vanderbilt, he also completed his internship in General Surgery and Residency in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, and served as Chief Resident. Dr. Lee went on to complete a Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship in Dallas, Texas at Willow Bend Cosmetic Surgery Center, affiliated with the University of Texas Southwestern at Dallas.

Dr. Lee serves as a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Medical Association, and Tennessee Dental Association. He is the Past President of the 8th District Dental Society.

Recently, Dr. Lee answered some questions about the unique culture at Cumberland and some of the memorable experiences he has had with patients.

Q&A with Dr. Lee: Thoughts on Cumberland Surgical Arts and His Experiences

What makes Cumberland Surgical Arts stand out as a dental implant center?

“We are a state-of-the-art facility that is certified by the state of Tennessee as an office-based surgical facility. We offer IV sedation and general anesthesia for the patient’s comfort during their dental implant surgery. Furthermore, we use the latest 3D CT cone beam scanning technology to evaluate patients preoperatively and plan the surgery in virtual reality prior to the surgical procedure being done.”

How do you encourage the ‘culture of safety’ at Cumberland Surgical Arts?

“Patient safety and comfort is our number one priority. Our clinical and administrative staff attends national and regional meetings for continuing education annually. We routinely review emergency protocols and role-play emergency scenarios. We strive to foster a learning environment with our clinical staff to encourage open discussion of clinical issues and topics with our doctors.

“This allows us to improve our delivery of care to our patients by constantly asking ourselves, ‘What can we do better?’ Our goal is to provide excellent care during the initial consultation, surgery, and post-operative follow-up appointments.”

What is the most dramatic transformation you have seen after dental implant surgery?

“It’s hard to say. I have reconstructed jaws with extensive bone grafting followed by placement of dental implants after head and neck cancer excision. I’ve retained poor fitting dentures in an elderly patient with dental implants. I have also placed a single anterior jaw implant in a young teenager who fell off of a skateboard and knocked out a tooth.

“Regardless of the extent of reconstruction, the common thread is seeing the happiness in patients after their smile and dental function has been restored. It is satisfying to be able to make a difference in patients’ lives.”

How do you stay up-to-date with the developments in dental implants?

“One of the greatest challenges in private practice is staying up to speed with the introduction of all of the new biologically active materials in bone grafting, applied 3D CT cone beam technology, and new surgical techniques and approaches to reconstruct patients’ jaws due to missing teeth.

“How I practice today is not the same as how I was trained in residency. The basic surgical technique remains the same, but how I apply it in dental implant surgery now is the result of over 1,200 hours of continuing education and more than 10 years of private practice after completing my surgical residency and fellowship in oral and maxillofacial surgery.”

Finding the Best Dental Surgeon

Building on his extensive education and training, Dr. Lee works hard to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in dental implants. Not only that, but he cares about creating the best possible outcome for his patients so their lives can be transformed for the better. If you choose Dr. Lee as your dental surgeon, you can feel confident you will be in the right hands.

Would you like Dr. Lee to be your dental surgeon? Schedule a consultation with Cumberland Surgical Arts today.