The UF Jacksonville Dental Clinic marked an important milestone Dec. 20 as the clinic performed its 1,000th dental implant surgery.
UF graduate Jake Pedraza, D.M.D., performed the implant surgery, during which he placed 14 Nobel Biocare implants in the patient using computer-assisted and computed tomography planning. Attending staff included clinic director and associate professor Cliff Starr, D.M.D., and clinical assistant professor Nidal “Sam” Elias, D.D.S.
Averaging more than 180 dental implant surgeries each year for the past four years, the clinic’s first implant was performed in May 1998. Each year, seven to eight residents complete advanced general dentistry training at the busy clinic, which averages more than 10,000 patient visits per year – about 175 patients per week.