Dennis Carl DeTomasi, D.D.S.

Meet Dr. DeTomasi

Dr. Dennis DeTomasi offers the full scope of maxillofacial surgical care to our community. In his 30 plus years as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, he has gained extensive expertise in dentoalveolar surgery, extractions, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, oral pathology, reconstructive jaw surgery (Orthognathic), facial trauma, and outpatient IV sedation and general anesthesia. He has been practicing since 1980.

A native Californian, Dr. DeTomasi graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, San Francisco in 1979, after which he finished a one-year general practice residency at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital.

He completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston in 1984 and became a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in 1987, with the designation of Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is certified in both Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Dr. DeTomasi has remained very active in organized dentistry and holds membership in regional, California-based, and local organizations. He has served in numerous leadership positions in the California Dental Association and the Butte-Sierra District Dental Association.

He is a member of the Western Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. DeTomasi has had the honor of being elected as a fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society, and has been a member of the Tau Kappa Omega Honor Society since 1979.

Dr. DeTomasi has co-authored professional articles that have been published in the Journal of the American Dental Association and the Journal of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology. He has been honored with awards for “Outstanding Proficiency in Oral Surgery, Endodontics, and Periodontics by the American College of Stomatologic Surgeons, and for “Outstanding Performance” by the American Society of Dentistry for Children. In 2007, the Butte-Sierra Dental Society honored him with their Distinguished Volunteer Service Award. He is also on active staff at Rideout Memorial Hospital, Marysville, CA and Fremont Hospital, Yuba City, CA. View Dr. DeTomasi's full CV.

Dr. DeTomasi is a member of multiple professional organizations, including:

• The American Dental Association
• The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• The American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• The International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• The International Congress of Oral Implantologists
• The American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, and the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. DeTomasi and his wife, Dawn, have enjoyed calling the Yuba-Sutter area their home since 1985. Together they raised two sons, Dustin and Drake.

Interview with Dr. De Tomasi at Sacramento Surgical Arts

Dr. De Tomasi, what are the most important aspects of patient care in your practice?

First of all, my patients really are my first priority. This is easy to say, but not always the way it is in the reality of busy practices. But for me, giving our patients an oral surgery experience that’s actually enjoyable is actually the goal for me and for my staff. We are devoted to listening, reviewing, evaluating, and always improving the quality of care we offer patients in a cost-effective manner. We want them to feel good about their experience with us.

It’s also meaningful to know that –in our community and with the doctors who refer their patients to us – we are looked upon as a practice that offers expertise, great patient care, and the best technology for Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. We have an optimum environment, conducive to meeting our patients’ needs and providing them with safe and effective treatment. Everything is set up to support each patient’s comfort, improvement, and rapid recovery.

What led you to your career in dentistry?

I’ve been asked this many times over the years, and one reason has to do with the fact that I’ve always loved the sciences, but I also enjoy interacting with people. Also, as a child I had an excellent dentist who was kind, compassionate, and – most importantly- never hurt me, despite the fact that I required many dental fillings.

I really respected him and felt that I could do the same for people if I chose dentistry for my career. My work enables me to combine my desires to be with people, pursue my ongoing interest in the sciences, and offer the kind of care I would want to receive myself.

What is the focus of your practice?

I’ve been practicing advanced oral & maxillofacial surgery since 1980. I specialize in dentoalveolar surgery (a type of oral surgery that focuses on the extraction of teeth and the repair or restructuring of supporting bone), wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, oral pathology, reconstructive jaw surgery (Orthognathic), facial trauma, and outpatient IV sedation and general anesthesia.

How does "pain-free dentistry" work?

There’s no need for dental patients to experience fear and pain nowadays, and gentle dentistry with the right anesthesia makes all the difference. As a trained anesthesiologist, my patients have choices. I use different types of anesthesia, depending upon the patient’s overall health and the options that are right for them, whether its local anesthesia, general anesthesia (asleep), intravenous anesthesia, or nitrous oxide sedation (“laughing gas”).

What types of anesthesia do you administer?

We use local anesthesia, so you stay awake and you're aware of what is happening without experiencing pain. Another type is Nitrous Oxide, a form of a light inhalation anesthetic, which relaxes you and makes you less aware of your surroundings and is used along with local anesthesia. Its effects quickly wear off within a few minutes, so there are no lingering sedative effects.

With intravenous or general anesthesia, you are fully sedated, which means you won’t have any recall of the procedure while it’s being done or afterwards. Anesthesia options are an important facet of discussion during a patient’s initial consultation visit.

What should new patients expect when they visit you?

An initial consultation is the time when I get to know the patient, find out what concerns they have, and review their medical history. We work together to decide on the best treatment option, discuss the process, and decide how to proceed. I like my patients to fully understand their choices, so that they’re comfortable with the process. This means that I do a lot of listening and focus on answering questions.

Why are dental implants a good option for many of your patients?

Dental implants have been around for over 30 years now and the success rate is over 95%. I’ve been doing dental implants since 1985, and they dramatically improve the quality of life and physical appearance. Over 25% of adults lose all of their permanent teeth and 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth as a result of gum disease, tooth decay, a failed root canal, or an accident.

Patients who have lost their teeth tell me that they feel self-conscious when they smile or talk, and tooth loss has a negative effect on their eating habits, which can cause other health problems. It can also result in bone loss, since bone weakens over time when there is no tooth to support it. The optimal solution for many patients is to have dental implants and, in many cases, dental implants may be the only logical choice for the restoration of all necessary functionality of the teeth and supporting structures.

In most cases, dental implants are stronger and more durable than bridges and dentures and single implants can serve to support your crown, replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also support a dental bridge for replacement of multiple missing teeth. Patients with full dentures often struggle with instability and discomfort. Implants placed to help stabilize a denture can decrease pain and allow you to chew without difficulty. Once the implants have been in long enough to anchor to the jawbone, a permanent false tooth or dentures are placed over the implants. They look and feel natural, and patients are thrilled to be able to eat normally and look more attractive.

Which aspects of your work do you most enjoy?

With all the advancements in Oral Surgery at my disposal, I love being able to turn a bad situation into something great for my patients, and I most enjoy reconstructing patients’ dentitions with implants. It’s challenging, detailed work and seeing the outcome is always gratifying – for me and for my patients.

Thank you, Dr. De Tomasi.

Thank you!