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I decided to get into dentistry after working in healthcare for several years. I had worked in an emergency room, and I really enjoyed working in healthcare, but I always longed to work with my hands and my nature is to fix things, and dentistry is a great fit for that skillset. So I shadowed a dentist one day, and that's all it took, I knew it was for me and I've not looked back since.
My educational background in dentistry began at the University of New York at Stony Brook. I completed dental school there, and went onto to do a general practice residency, which is a year long intensive program in general dentistry. I learned a lot of great techniques and a lot of new things in dentistry. Since then, I've done continuing education courses in CAD/CAM dentistry, in implant dentistry, and other aspects that have really tried to keep up with technology that's available and keep myself current in the profession.
My role at Advanced Dental Center is as an associate doctor. I see patients all day, every day. That's what I enjoy doing, and working at Advanced Dental Center has given me the freedom to do just that, so I can really focus on patient care and provide the results that patients are looking for.
The most rewarding part of being a dentist for me is to just see the help that we provide for our patients. Whether it's helping someone get out of pain, or helping someone to achieve the smile that they've always wanted, that's been the most rewarding thing for me, when you can see that on a patient's face and get that feedback. We really enjoy that.
Dr. John Thomas Hess graduated with honors from Stony Brook University School of Medicine for his doctor of dental surgery degree. He then went on to graduate from the General Practice Residency program at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital in Columbia, SC, where he received advanced training in many aspects of dentistry such as implant dentistry, oral surgery, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. John Hess served in the U.S. Army for eight years as an intelligence officer before he attended dental school.
Dr. John Hess and his wife have three children. When not practicing dentistry, he enjoys fishing, biking, and traveling.