Photos by Ray Bryant, Bryant Studios
Dr. Robert McNeill
For Dr. McNeill, the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment
was a natural fit. He has always been determined
that his career must be more than just a job and finds reward
in working closely with the other members of the team. The
team approach also answered another need as the demands on
his time began to increase. “My participation on the Board of
Dental Examiners grew to occupy significant space on my
schedule and I needed a solution. Working with a group of other
doctors whose values are closely aligned with my own allows me
to continue my involvement without compromising patient
care. The formation of our specialty group has been a great opportunity
for professional development, because different perspectives
bring so much to the treatment planning process.”
During the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. McNeill has been actively involved
in the Board’s efforts to develop guidelines for reopening
in the safest manner. “Working through the evolving information
on this novel virus, we identified health risks that would
impact the way dental practices typically operate,” he notes. “It
has been an interesting time but I’m grateful that my role on
the Board placed me in a position to help plan a path forward.
There were some late-night calls with the governor’s office to
hash out safety measures so dental practices could reopen
rather than simply shutting down. Our goal was to find solutions
that would minimize the negative impact of the crisis on
the dental community while keeping patients and families safe.”
Dr. McNeill offers dental implant therapy, including single stage
implant surgery made possible by recent advances in implant
technology. He is a featured national speaker on dental implants
and recently spoke at the annual session for the American
College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery on the topic of
advances in dental implant therapy.
Having Dr. McNeill in the specialty group means that his clinical
expertise is always close at hand for treatment planning.
Patients referred for endodontic or periodontic treatment can
conveniently schedule an oral surgery procedure in the same
office should the need arise. For young patients whose smiles
“Different perspectives bring so
much to the treatment planning
process.”
are still taking shape, having a caring, compassionate oral surgeon
in the same familiar location is reassuring if a surgical procedure
like wisdom tooth extraction or treatment of a partially
erupted tooth is required.
Oral surgery and periodontics naturally have some overlap in
procedures but use different techniques. Working side by side
with periodontist Dr. Stephanie Ganter Briggs has made it
possible for the two specialties to complement each other.
Dr. McNeill finds that the collaborative model has been an
especially valuable asset over the last few months. “It’s easier
to meet any challenge, ordinary or extraordinary, with the right
people on the team.”
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