Harold A. Black, DDS - Dr. Black has called Savannah home for many years. He graduated from Savannah High School before attending Emory University where he earned his DDS. He is a member of many various professional societies including the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association and the Academy of Implants and Transplants. Dr. Black is an active staff and served as past Chief of Dentistry at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital and Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Black has served as the past president of the American Association of Hospital Dentists as well as the past president of the Bnai Birth Jacob Synagogue.

Joseph E. Brown, III, DMD - Dr. Brown is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina (2008) with extensive training in the application of Invisalign, as well as clear braces, mini-dental implants, facial esthetics, and cosmetic dentistry. He is an Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines Diplomate, earning this distinction through a rigorous educational, experiential, and testing process. He has also has received additional training in the application of botox and dermafillers. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Hilton Head/Bluffton Dental Society, the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a member of the South Carolina Dental Association, Dr. Brown served as Chairman of the Committee on the New Dentists and is a House of Delegates Member representing the Coastal District. He is the currently the President of the Coastal District Dental Society and President of the Medical University Alumni Board of Governors. He has been inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a selective international honorary dental organization that recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the field of dentistry.

Daniel Carson, DMD, OMFS - Dr. Carson earned a doctor of dental medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 2005, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class and receiving the Ben Irby Oral Surgery Award as well as the Removable Prosthetics Award. After completing his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at MUSC, Dr. Carson was in private practice at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in Charleston. Dr. Carson performs comprehensive oral surgery services at Morrison Dental's offices in Savannah, Brunswick and Bluffton, S.C., including dental implants, wisdom teeth extractions and orthognothic surgery. He specializes in complicated extractions, complex dental implant cases and jaw reconstruction. In addition to being a guest lecturer at the MUSC College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Carson is a faculty member for a leading international dental implant provider and a frequent speaker on innovations in dental implant procedures at national dental conferences.

Rutledge Coleman, Jr. DMD - Dr. Coleman joined Morrison Dental Associates in 2017 and specializes in periodontal dental care. He received a Certificate of Periodontology from the Medical College of Georgia. With an accomplished history of practicing periodontal dentistry, Dr. Coleman is acknowledged for his expertise in the use of laser periodontal treatment promoting new bone growth and gum tissue reattachment.

Al Roberts , DMD - Dr. Al Roberts' childhood began under the tutelage of his mother, Joyce Roberts, a 50 year dental hygiene veteran in sleepy Hazelhurst, Georgia. Inspired by his mother's dedication to oral health, Dr. Roberts attended the Medical College of Georgia and graduated in 1998. Dr. Roberts owned his own practice for over 12 years before joining Morrison Dental Associates in 2011. Dr. Roberts prefers general dentistry because if offers him the opportunity to perform a root canal in the morning and a tooth extraction in the afternoon. When Dr. Roberts isn't busy performing root canals and extractions, he enjoys baking fancy cakes, golfing, fishing, and cleaning up after his two dogs and two cats. On any given Saturday morning you would be most likely to spot Dr. Roberts teaching his teenage son, Fred, to golf.

Deepak Gupta, DMD - Dr. Gupta is a longtime member of the Morrison Dental Associates team. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BS in biology and earned his DMD from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. He is a practicing member of the Georgia Dental Society.

Kevin Pfeiffer, DMD - Dr. Pfeiffer earned a Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. He practiced at Pfeiffer Family Dentistry in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, with his father before choosing to join the Morrison Dental Associates team. While practicing in Kentucky, he was a member of the Northern Kentucky Independent Health Department. Dr. Pfeiffer is confident in all forms of general dentistry, including treatment planning, cosmetic and restorative dentisry, root canals, prosthodontics, CEREC and oral surgery. He is also a certified Invisalign provider.

George A. Townes, DMD - Dr. Townes is a graduate of the College of Charleston and earned his DMD from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1999. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the South Carolina Dental Association.

Leon Felps, DDS - Dr. Leon Felps might just be the original 'Renaissance Man.' Dr. Felps ' curious resume starts out in woodworking, carpentry, and mechanical engineering. Ultimately, his indefatigable sense of artistry led him to attend the University of Maryland, School of Dental Surgery where he graduated in 1968. While practicing dentistry in Maryland, Dr. Felps was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma cancer. After 10 months of chemotherapy, Dr. Felps reemerged into a whirlwind of home building, deep sea diving, traveling, and boating. Dr. Felps has resided on his boat in numerous harbors along the eastern seaboard, heading further South with each move. He recently traded his boat in for a seaside home on Jekyll Island. Dr. Felps describes his dentistry as compulsively perfect, patient centered; and boasts more dentists as patients than anyone he knows. He enjoys teaching the younger generation of dentists his craft, while keeping up to date on the latest advances in dentistry. Dr. Felps is married to the lucky Margo Felps, he has 3 children, and 8 grandchildren.

Rosaane Brandt, DDS - Dr. Rosaane Brandt practices general family dentistry at Morrison Dental's Brunswick location. She obtained a BS from Vanderbilt University and a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Northwestern University Dental School, and Dr. Brandt has been licensed to practice dentistry for more than 20 years. Her experience and her vast knowledge of family and general dentistry make Dr. Brandt an invaluable resource to the entire Morrison Dental practice. Dr. Brandt is important member of our Brunswick staff and our Brunswick patients love her!

Paul Nettles, DMD - Dr. Nettles received his doctor of dental medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 1996. After graduation he opened a private practice in Canton, Ga. He sold that practice in 2003, and began to continue his practice of general dentistry as an associate dentist. In 2012 he moved to Dallas, TX to be closed to his then teenage daughter who had moved to Texas with her mother. Now that his daughter is in college at LSU, Dr. Nettles returned to Georgia. Having always wanted to live on the coast, he chose Brunswick as his new home, and began working at Morrison Dental Associates in the spring of 2019.

Thomas J. Morrison, D.D.S., opened the first Morrison Dental Associates office in 1972 in Savannah on 31st Street and the practice has been growing ever since. MDA has served tens of thousands of patients at offices in Savannah, Atlanta, Brunswick and South Carolina's Lowcountry. After more than 40 years, Morrison Dental Associates continues to operate with the same philosophy that motivated Dr. Morrison to found the practice: everyone deserves the highest quality dental care at an affordable price.

MDA is a team of highly experienced doctors and staff working together to serve our patients in a welcoming and professional atmosphere. Over the years, MDA has developed a reputation for caring about its patients. The dentists and staff at MDA are compassionate, friendly and dedicated to providing the best treatment options to meet their patients' needs.

MDA is also committed to establishing relationships with our patients and finding the best way to make excellent dental care affordable. MDA has become a leader in the dental community by consistently providing the best oral care at a price that makes our patients smile.

Oral surgery encompasses a broad range of services, and Morrison Dental offers the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, including but not limited to dental implants, tooth extraction, wisdom tooth removal and corrective jaw surgery. In addition to surgical procedures, Morrison Dental's oral surgery practice incorporates the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries and defects related to the function and appearance of the teeth, jaws, gums and tissues of the mouth.

Dr. Carson earned a doctor of dental medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 2005, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class and receiving the Ben Irby Oral Surgery Award as well as the Removable Prosthetics Award. After completing his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at MUSC, Dr. Carson was in private practice at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in Charleston.

Dr. Carson performs comprehensive oral surgery services at Morrison Dental's offices in Savannah, Brunswick and Bluffton, S.C., including dental implants, wisdom teeth extractions and orthognothic surgery. He specializes in complicated extractions, complex dental implant cases and jaw reconstruction.

In addition to being a guest lecturer at the MUSC College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Carson is a faculty member for a leading international dental implant provider and a frequent speaker on innovations in dental implant procedures at national dental conferences.

Implant dentistry has revolutionized cosmetic and restorative dental treatments giving patients the ability to permanently replace lost teeth with dental implants. Dental implants look and feel natural and are the best option for patients with missing or damaged teeth. We custom design our dental implants providing the most accurate fit, so you can feel confident when you smile and eat what you want without worrying. By providing our patients with an unparalleled level of effectiveness, convenience, and affordability, dental implants can literally change the way you live your life.

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel, and function like natural teeth. If you've lost teeth, you can regain the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that dental implants appear natural and your facial contours and your jawbone will be preserved.

Dental implants allow you to keep the rest of your teeth healthy. They help to prevent the deterioration of your jawbone, keep your face structure in place, and keep your still existing teeth from shifting. Dental implants help maintain anatomy. When you have missing teeth, you run the risk of the bones in your face shrinking. Bone loss can lead to your jaw line receding and changes in your facial structure. Lastly, expertly placed dental implants will not move around, which means the problems that dentures usually have are completely eliminated.

A dental implant is the best option to replace a missing tooth. In this procedure, a small titanium shaft is surgically implanted in to the bone and allowed to set. Once the implant is firmly set in their mouth, the dentist attaches the replacement tooth or crown on top of the shaft.

The dental implant process is completed in three main phases, typically over several months. During your first visit, we will place the titanium screw in your jaw bone. Eventually the bone grows around the shaft of the screw. This has to completely fuse with your jaw just like all of your teeth, which make take several months. Once the implant is firmly set in the mouth, the dentist attaches the replacement tooth or crown on top of the shaft ensuing a comfortable bite that fits in seamlessly with your smile.

You may require additional visits if bone grafting is necessary for successful implant placement. As with all other aspects of your dental implant placement, this is completes in our office by experienced dentists and periodontists.

There are several advantages to implants. Because your implant fuses into your jaw, it serves as a permanent solution for your missing teeth. The adjacent teeth are left alone, thus unaffected. Implants stimulate the surrounding bone preventing further bone loss which can occur after tooth extractions. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone at the location of the missing tooth will slowly begin to dissolve away-a process called resorption. By placing a dental implant or several implants to support your bridge, you stimulate new bone growth in the are, preventing bone loss and helping your jaw retain it's shape in the future.

Should the implant tooth ever wear out, another can simply be replaced on the implant. Dental implants will restore full function to your bite an will improve the appearance of your smile by filling the gaps.

Implants can also be used as support for a bridge or denture. This has several advantages. First, there is less adjustment period to acclimate the patient who only feels teeth rather than metal supports intruding into the mouth. Second, implants stimulate the surrounding bone and prevents continued bone loss that occurs after a tooth is extracted. Third, there is no discomfort or difficulty in eating with implants. Best of all, of course, they don't have to be taken out all the time.

Wisdom Teeth are the 'third molars' that erupt on both sides of your upper and lower jaws, usually between the ages of 17 and 21 after your other adult teeth have already come in. For many, these teeth emerge without issue or cause for concern. However, wisdom tooth extraction is a common necessity due to impacted teeth, infection, and tooth cramming.

There are several reasons why your wisdom teeth may need to be extracted. Your wisdom teeth may grow in where there isn't room in your jaws, cramming other teeth. Tooth cramming is painful and keeps you from having a straight, healthy smile. Wisdom teeth may be decayed, or grown at a severe angle. You may experience an infection as the site of an erupting tooth because it is difficult to effectively clean food particles from the area.

In all of these instances, your orthodontist may recommend that one or all of your wisdom teeth be removed. It might feel intimidating to need tooth extraction surgery, but this procedure is common and safe. There are several sedative and anesthetic options for wisdom tooth surgery.

The method you choose will depend on personal preference and your doctor's recommendation. Some prefer to be completely sedated during oral surgery so that they will not remember the experience. Others might feel comfortable with just a local anesthetic for a quick and direct procedure. Depending on what degree of sedation you choose, you may need to arrange someone to drive you home.

Wisdom teeth are not necessary for chewing and daily life. Once they are removed, you won't need to worry about any changes to your routine or diet after the initial recovery. Recovery is usually a short process, aided by prescription pain medication and a soft diet for a short time (one to two weeks). Following your surgery, you will need to follow some basic instructions in order to prevent infection or ripped stitches. These instructions may include some or all of the following:

The most important part of your oral surgery is your comfort level. Our staff will help you decide what degree of sedation is the best fit for you. AT Morrison Dental Associates, you can feel confident in your decision.

Dr. Black has called Savannah home for many years. He graduated from Savannah High School before attending Emory University where he earned his DDS. He is a member of many various professional societies including the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association and the Academy of Implants and Transplants. Dr. Black is an active staff and served as past Chief of Dentistry at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital and Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Black has served as the past president of the American Association of Hospital Dentists as well as the past president of the Bnai Birth Jacob Synagogue.

Dr. Brown is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina (2008) with extensive training in the application of Invisalign, as well as clear braces, mini-dental implants, facial esthetics, and cosmetic dentistry. He also has received additional training in the application of botox and dermafillers. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Hilton Head/Bluffton Dental Society, the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a member of the South Carolina Dental Association, Dr. Brown served as Chairman of the Committee on the New Dentists and is a House of Delegates Member representing the Coastal District. He is the currently the President of the Coastal District Dental Society and President of the Medical University Alumni Board of Governors. He has been inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy, a selective international honorary dental organization that recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the field of dentistry.

Fast facts that you need to know: Sleep apnea is a serious condition characterized by interruptions of breathing during sleep and has been linked to much more serious health problems like strokes, heart attacks, life-threatening high blood pressure, depression and diabetes.

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening medical disorder that causes the patient's body to stop breathing during sleep. The muscles in the patient's throat relaxes and the tongue may fall back and block the airway as the patients sleep, reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to all of the patient's organs including the patient's heart and brain. People with sleep apnea may snore loudly and stop breathing for short periods of time. The breathing pauses from sleep cause the patient's body to briefly wake while the patient remains unaware. This can happen hundreds of times per night.

In addition to snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can cause memory loss, morning headaches, irritability, depression, decreased sex drive and impaired concentration. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, stroke, diabetes, heart attack and sudden death during sleep.

Sleep apnea patients are often older, obese and have thick necks - but it's important to note that men and women of any age or body type can have sleep apnea. The sleep disorder progressively worsens with age and weight gain.

The vast major of sleep related breathing cases go undiagnosed and untreated. An Institute of Medicine report found that an estimated 50-70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Excessive daytime sleepiness alone is costly and dangerous - studies show excessive daytime sleepiness costs the economy billions of dollars in lost productivity and nearly 1 of every 5 car accidents causing serious injury are associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.

Oral appliances are a front-line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These small plastic devices fit in the mouth during sleep like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer.

Oral appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat, keeping the airway open during sleep and promoting adequate air intake. Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with other treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders, such as weight management, surgery or CPAP.

Morrison Dental can provide oral appliances to patients with primary snoring or mild OSA who do not respond to or are not appropriate candidates for treatment with behavioral measures such as weight loss or sleep-position change.

Patients with moderate to severe OSA should be thoroughly examined by a sleep physician and have an initial trial treatment using a nasal CPAP due to greater effectiveness with the use of oral appliances.

Oral appliance therapy may be appropriate and effective for patients with moderate to severe OSA who are intolerant of or refuse treatment with nasal CPAP. Oral appliances are also indicated for patients who refuse treatment or are not candidates for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, cranofacial operations, or tracheostomy.

Oral appliance therapy involves the selection, fitting and use of a specially designed oral appliance that maintains an open, unobstructed airway in the throat when worn during sleep. Custom-made oral appliances are proven to be more effective than over-the-counter devices (which are not recommended as a screening tool nor as a therapeutic option).

Oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear. Most people find that it only takes a couple of weeks to become acclimated to wearing the appliance. Oral appliances are small and convenient making them easy to carry when traveling, and treatment with oral appliances is reversible and non-invasive.

With so many different oral appliances available, selection of a specific appliance may appear somewhat overwhelming. Nearly all appliances fall into one of two categories. The diverse variety is simply a variation of a few major themes. Oral appliances can be classified by mode of action or design variation:

Tongue retaining appliances hold the tongue in a forward position using a suction bulb. When the tongue is in a forward position, it serves to keep the back of the tongue from collapsing during sleep and obstructing the airway in the throat.

Mandibular repositioning appliances reposition and maintain the lower jaw in a protruded position during sleep. The device serves to open the airway by indirectly pulling the tongue forward, stimulating activity of the muscles in the tongue and making it more rigid. The device also holds the lower jaw and other structures in a stable position to prevent the mouth from opening.