Dr. Vincent J. Cavaretta is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who is board certified by both the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry. He prides himself on his personal touch and ability to educate patients and includes them in the treatment process for the best results.. He understands that by empowering his patients through information, he can help lessen the anxiety brought on by these procedures, thus improving the whole treatment experience. He believes the most accomplished surgeons are consummate students and, in that same vein, Dr. Cavaretta promises to offer his patients the best technology and techniques available in oral and maxillofacial surgery today.
While completing several years of research in cell and molecular biology and wound-healing at both UNLV and UCLA, Dr. Cavaretta built the foundation for his passion in complicated hard and soft tissue grafting procedures necessary for oral reconstruction and rehabilitation. He was selected to present his research at the International Association for Dental Research and was published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He has lectured on bone grafting, soft tissue esthetic surgery and grafting, and dental implant therapy to dentists, surgeons, and surgical residents. He is well respected by his peers and has been voted a Texas Super Dentist.
Dr. Cavaretta was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where he graduated with honors from UNLV with a degree in cell and molecular biology and a minor in chemistry. He went on to attend dental school at UCLA where he graduated Magna Cum Laude receiving the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Award from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as the Oral Pathology Award and the Oral Medicine and Facial Pain Award. He completed his internship at the prestigious Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and went on to complete his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Texas in Houston. After training at one of the largest medical centers in the country, Dr. Cavaretta was afforded exposure to a vast number of challenging cases and pathology. This further advanced his knowledge and surgical skills in facial trauma and reconstruction, dentoalveolar surgery, implant dentistry, and oral pathology. During these years he also prides himself on completing additional training in hospital-based anesthesia with the Baylor University Department of Anesthesia. He is a proud member of the Austin community where he lives with his wife, Dr. Ashley Gordon, an accomplished plastic surgeon, and their three canine children.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry International Team for Implantology American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Texas Dental Association Capital Area Dental Society American Dental Association Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Our philosophy is to treat every person as an individual. We understand that a lot of apprehension comes with having oral surgery, so our goal is to address those fears directly with our patients and do what we can to comfort and educate them. We spare no expense by using the latest techniques, technology, and materials to perform successful surgeries.
I enjoy the wide scope of care that oral surgery offers. You can focus a practice on dental extractions and jaw reconstruction while also engaging in facial trauma and reconstruction. It is an amazing profession, with one foot in dentistry and the other in medicine and anesthesia.
I enjoy the personal interaction with the patients. I never expected that getting to know people and their families, as well as their diverse backgrounds, would be one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice.
Coming from a working-class family, I had to work a full-time job through both college and graduate school to be able to afford my training. I am very happy for the experience, and I learned the value of hard work.
When I was in high school, the oral surgeon who removed my wisdom teeth took me in and mentored me. He allowed me to watch his surgeries and left a lasting impression on me. He was an accomplished oral surgeon who was once the president of the national society.
Patients choose us for their oral surgery needs above all else because we are leaders in our field when it comes to technology and advanced surgical procedures. We are compassionate and caring and take time to treat each patient as an individual.
My vision has always been to be part of a practice whose main focus is on taking care of people and offering an exceptional experience, rather than obtaining certain production goals. Upon meeting Dr. Cavaretta and observing how he and the outstanding team at Hill Country Oral Surgery were already doing just that, I knew I had found my dream practice. Dr. Rasmussen is personable, respectful and treats everyone like he would his own family members. This guiding principle combined with excellent surgical skills and a passion for ongoing learning made him the perfect fit for our ever-expanding practice, says Dr. Cavaretta.
Dr. Rasmussen had a unique path to becoming a top oral surgeon. Between dental school and his oral surgery residency, he spent two years practicing real world clinical dentistry. This along with having four small children and one on the way, truly gives him a 360 degree view. He brings the different perspectives of father, dentist, and oral surgeon as he approaches problems and patients, and this elevates the care he delivers. For example, he completely empathizes with parents who fear anesthesia and surgery for their children. At the same time, hes great with kids and knows how to calm the young, scared and possibly, uncooperative child. He also understands the importance of clear communication of the treatment plan with your referring dentist or orthodontist. He is dedicated to not only delivering the best result possible but in the safest, most comfortable way.
Dr. Tyler Rasmussen grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where much of his time was spent on the ski slopes or in the ice rink. He began his college career at Utah State University where he played division II hockey. During his college years, he served on a two-year service mission in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Upon returning home, he transferred to the University of Utah to complete his degree in medical biology and be closer to a certain girl, Bonnie, that hed known since seventh grade. He and Bonnie soon married and started a family.
He received an academic scholarship to attend dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where he graduated Cum Laude. While in dental school he developed a particular interest in oral surgery and went on to complete an internship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Nashville, Tennessee. He then worked as a practicing dentist for two years before following his passion and going on to complete a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Western New York.
He and Bonnie are now personal chauffeurs to four children that keep them very busy with friends, sports, school and church activities. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, indoor soccer, and exploring the great outdoors with his family. Tyler and Bonnie feel fortunate to call Austin home and look forward to raising a family here.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Texas Dental Association Capital Area Dental Society American Dental Association Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
I attended Utah State University for two years where I played Division II ice hockey. Then I transferred to the University of Utah to get closer to the love of my life. I quit playing hockey to focus on my studies.
As a senior dental student, I witnessed a medical emergency in the student dental clinic. The supervising dentist immediately paged the oral surgeon from another department. The surgeon quickly came and assessed the patient, placed an IV and was able to stabilize the patient until EMS arrived. At that moment I realized that I wanted to be someone that has the advanced skill and training to be able help patients when called upon by my colleague dentists.
Although it is a challenging career, I love the satisfaction of having a unique skillset that I use to help people in need. Whether it be treating someone at the hospital with facial fractures after a traumatic injury or helping replace a fractured front tooth to proper form and function with a dental implant and tissue grafting, there is never a dull moment.
I realized that people generally do not like the dentist, and many are scared of you, especially when it comes to surgery. You can have great bedside manner, but many people still only tolerate going to the dentist. I found that If you can offer advanced level anesthesia, patients are not scared of you anymore, and most of them will come back and recount how wonderful their surgical experience was.
With acceptance rates close to 50%, it is very competitive to get accepted into an oral surgery residency program. I decided very late in dental school to pursue oral surgery. Because of this, I had not done certain things that would make me a stronger applicant. I initially did not get accepted into a program, so I worked with an oral surgeon for a couple of years. I then was able to gain acceptance into and go on to complete a surgical residency.
Many attending dentists and surgeons have helped mentor me over the course of my training. Dr Cavaretta is someone I have known for 5 years and whom I look up to and respect. I feel like he mentors me on almost a daily basis, both in and outside of work life.
As you are starting out on the 12+ year educational journey to become a surgeon, it is easy to harbor doubt in yourself and fear of failure. You are placed in many intimidating situations and often feel overwhelmed and overburdened every single day. You have experiences that most people cannot even fathom without having the reference of residency life. At some point along the way, you are transformed into this strong confident person who understands that you have the power to take control of your life and you can do challenging things.
You get a different feel from the moment you step into our office. Our practice is centered around patient care, rather than hitting certain production goals, and people will pick up on that. I am not a salesman, nor would I ever want to come off as one. I am a problem solver and a skilled surgeon. People come to me with complex problems, and we have an expert team. You and I will tailor a realistic surgical plan to fit your goals and needs. Often times, it may take several months to achieve our end result, but we are in it together every step of the way.
The surgical staff at Hill Country Oral Surgery is highly experienced and each is a certified assistant by the state of Texas. Their goal is to make your surgical experience a comfortable and positive one. They take infection and quality control very seriously. All staff members are CPR certified and attend continuing education to stay current with the advances of oral surgery. Our administrative staff have years of experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery and are well-versed in insurance and financial policies as they relate to your surgical treatment.