Dental Implants Periodontist in Nashville

June 15, 2026

Nashville is the state capital and Tennessee’s largest city, home to about 715,388 residents as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) under the consolidated government of Nashville and Davidson County, the nation’s first merged city-county. A metro of that size supports a correspondingly deep bench of specialty dental practices, and dental implants are one of the procedures where that depth shows. Many of the providers who place implants here are periodontists, the dental specialists trained in the gums and the bone that anchor teeth. When a tooth is lost to gum disease or the jaw has lost volume, the success of an implant depends as much on that foundation as on the implant itself, which is why patients with bone loss or complex tooth-replacement needs are frequently steered toward a periodontist for the surgical placement.

What sets a periodontist apart is the training behind the title. After earning a DDS or DMD dental degree, a periodontist completes a further three years of accredited residency in periodontics, the branch of dentistry the American Dental Association recognizes as a formal specialty. Tennessee licenses these doctors through the Board of Dentistry, an arm of the Tennessee Department of Health, and any consumer can confirm a license through the department before booking. Periodontists, though, are not the only path to an implant. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons place them too, as do some general dentists who have pursued extra implant training, so it pays to ask each office directly about its doctors’ credentials, residency, and case volume rather than relying on advertising.

On the clinical side, Nashville periodontists handle the full arc of implant work. That ranges from a single replacement tooth to full-arch restorations such as the All-on-4 approach, which seats a complete set of replacement teeth on as few as four implants. Supporting that work, these specialists perform bone grafting to rebuild jaw volume, sinus lifts to open room for upper implants, and gum grafting to restore receding tissue, alongside the broader treatment of periodontal disease, often with computer-guided surgery and IV or oral sedation. A useful credential to ask about is the title Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a voluntary board certification earned by examination above the minimum required to practice.

Cost and consumer protection round out what a patient should weigh. Professional dental services in Tennessee are generally not taxed the way retail goods are, though any product sold separately can carry the state and local sales tax, so a written, itemized treatment plan is worth requesting up front, including what a graft or sinus lift would add if one becomes necessary. If something goes wrong, a clinical grievance against a licensed dentist or periodontist is the province of the Board of Dentistry at the Department of Health, while deceptive business practices are addressed by the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). This article is informational and is not dental or medical advice.

Top Dental Implants Periodontist Providers in Nashville

1. Nashville Periodontal Group

Address: 2000 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 385-3334
Website: https://nashvilleperio.com
Services: dental implants, simple and complex implant placement, computer-guided implant surgery, periodontal (gum) disease treatment, esthetic periodontal plastic surgery, minimally invasive procedures, customized sedation
Description: Nashville Periodontal Group has provided periodontal and dental implant surgery to the greater Middle Tennessee area since the 1970s, with offices in Nashville and Brentwood. The practice’s periodontists include Dr. Will C. Akin, DDS, who completed a three-year residency in periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and earned his dental degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis; he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and board certified in dental implant surgery. He practices alongside Dr. Brian D. West, DMD, and Dr. Alec J. Temlock, DMD, MS. The group offers both simple and complex implant placement supported by computer-guided treatment planning, digital radiographs, 3D cone-beam CT scanning, and customized sedation options, and it also performs esthetic periodontal plastic surgery and minimally invasive procedures.

2. Periodontal & Implant Associates of Middle Tennessee

Address: 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 101, Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: (615) 297-8973
Website: https://www.tnperio.com
Services: dental implants, dental implant site preparation, periodontal therapy, IV sedation
Description: Periodontal & Implant Associates of Middle Tennessee operates offices in Nashville, Brentwood, and Hendersonville and traces its current practice to 2000, when Dr. Robert Pulliam established it. Dr. Pulliam is a board certified periodontist who has practiced in Nashville for roughly 25 years; he earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s degree in periodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The team also includes Dr. David Meister, DMD, MS, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, along with Dr. Jeff Penner, DDS, MS, and Dr. James M. Fili, DDS, MS. The practice provides periodontal therapy, dental implants, implant site preparation, and IV sedation, and describes its approach as centered on advanced, technology-supported care.

3. Advanced Institute for Oral Health

Address: 213 Overlook Circle, Suite B-4, Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: (615) 370-9486
Website: https://newteethforme.com
Services: dental implants, All-on-4 full-arch implants, bone grafting, sinus lift, gum grafting, extraction site preservation, periodontal disease treatment with laser therapy, regenerative therapy, sedation, cosmetic gum correction
Description: The Advanced Institute for Oral Health is led by Dr. Jason T. Primm, DDS, MDS, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology who completed a three-year surgical residency and earned his master’s degree in periodontology from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The practice is based in Brentwood and serves Brentwood, Franklin, and the broader metro Nashville area, making it a referral option for Nashville patients seeking full-arch care. Dr. Primm places single implants and All-on-4 full-arch implants and performs bone grafting, sinus lifts, gum grafting, extraction site preservation, and regenerative therapy. The office treats periodontal disease using the PerioLase laser and offers sedation as well as cosmetic gum correction for gummy smiles and recession.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants Periodontist in Nashville

Q: What is a periodontist, and how is one different from a general dentist?

A periodontist is a dental specialist who, after earning a DDS or DMD, completes an additional three years of accredited residency focused on the gums, the supporting bone, and the placement of dental implants. Periodontics is an American Dental Association recognized specialty. A general dentist may also place implants after additional training, so patients comparing providers should ask each one about residency, board certification, and implant experience.

Q: How do I verify that a Nashville periodontist is licensed?

Periodontists in Tennessee are licensed by the Board of Dentistry under the Tennessee Department of Health, and license status can be confirmed through the department before treatment. Many periodontists are also Diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology, a voluntary board certification. Verifying the license and asking about board certification are both reasonable steps before beginning care.

Q: Are periodontists the only providers who place dental implants in Nashville?

No. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and some general dentists with implant training also place dental implants. Periodontists specialize in the gums and bone that support implants, which is why patients with bone loss, gum disease, or full-arch needs are often referred to them. Because training varies, it is reasonable to ask any provider about their specific qualifications.

Q: What implant-related services do Nashville periodontists typically offer?

Many Nashville periodontists place single implants and full-arch restorations such as the All-on-4 style, and they commonly perform bone grafting, sinus lifts, and gum grafting to prepare or restore the supporting tissue. They also treat periodontal disease and frequently use computer-guided surgery, 3D cone-beam imaging, and sedation. Specific offerings vary by practice, so confirm services directly with the office.

Q: Is dental implant treatment taxed in Tennessee?

Professional dental services in Tennessee are generally not taxed the way retail goods are, though any product sold separately may carry the 7% state sales tax plus the local option rate. Because cost structures vary, patients should request a written, itemized treatment plan and ask what additional procedures, such as grafting or a sinus lift, would cost if they become necessary.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a dental implant provider in Nashville?

Clinical complaints about a licensed dentist or periodontist are handled by the Board of Dentistry under the Tennessee Department of Health. Complaints involving deceptive business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping the written treatment plan, payment records, and any correspondence strengthens a complaint.