"Best oral surgeon" is a phrase that means different things to different patients. The best oral surgeon for a complex full-arch case isn't necessarily the same surgeon who's the best fit for routine wisdom teeth. Rather than offering self-promotional answers, this page provides an honest evaluation framework for choosing an oral surgeon — applicable to any practice you're considering, including Elite.
No single oral surgeon is "the best" across all clinical situations. The best surgeon for full-arch dental implants is the one with substantial full-arch volume and demonstrated outcomes. The best surgeon for impacted wisdom teeth is one with strong third molar experience and patient management skills. The best surgeon for jaw surgery is one with orthognathic surgery training. Match the surgeon's strengths to your case.
Marketing claims like "best oral surgeon in [city]" are often Yellow Pages-era thinking applied to modern dentistry — they signal nothing about clinical fit. Better questions: What procedures does this practice perform most often? What's the surgeon's training pathway? Are they board-certified by ABOMS? Does the practice scope match my case?
Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission rules also limit how dental practices can use superlative claims. "Best" claims about clinical quality require objective verification — most cannot be substantiated. Practices using "best" language casually in marketing should be evaluated carefully; substance matters more than self-claims.
1. Board certification (ABOMS). American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Diplomate status is the highest credential in the specialty. Requires completion of an accredited 4-6 year residency, demonstrated clinical experience, and passing rigorous written and oral board examinations. Not all oral surgeons are board-certified; verify status on the practice website or directly with the surgeon.
2. Training pathway and clinical exposure. Different residency programs have different strengths. Naval and military residencies (NMC Portsmouth, Walter Reed, others) are typically high-volume surgical training environments with diverse case mix and substantial trauma exposure. University-based programs offer different research and academic strengths. Hospital-based programs offer broad medical exposure. Ask where your surgeon trained.
3. Practice scope match to your case. Some OMS practices focus on specific procedures (full-arch implants, jaw surgery, oral pathology) while others handle broad general OMS scope. For a full-arch case, you want substantial full-arch volume — not occasional cases. For complex extractions, you want strong general OMS scope. Match the practice to your case.
4. Technology and surgical environment. CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) is the standard of care for implant planning. Practices without in-house CBCT are operating below current standard. IV sedation under WA General Anesthesia Permit is meaningfully different from oral sedation. The surgical environment (operatory setup, sterile processing, instrumentation) affects outcomes. Ask to see the practice if you have specific concerns.
5. Communication patterns with referring dentists. For most OMS cases, your general dentist refers you and continues handling restorative care. The OMS practice's communication patterns matter — whether they share imaging, surgical reports, and post-operative recommendations clearly. Ask your referring dentist about their experience with the OMS practice. This is often more revealing than the surgeon's marketing.
6. Practice continuity and follow-up. Single-doctor practices offer continuity — the same surgeon you meet performs your surgery and follows you through recovery. Multi-doctor practices distribute care across providers. Chain centers may rotate providers based on schedule. Neither model is inherently better for all patients, but continuity matters for complex cases requiring sustained surgeon-patient relationships.
Heavy reliance on "before/after" marketing. Photos can be cherry-picked, edited, or sourced from stock images. Reputable practices may share patient outcomes (with consent), but excessive marketing emphasis on dramatic transformations is often a sales tactic rather than clinical evidence.
Pressure to commit at consultation. "Today only" pricing, urgent decision-making pressure, or commission-incentivized treatment coordinators are red flags. Major dental procedures warrant time to consider. Reputable practices provide written quotes that remain valid for reasonable periods.
Vague responses to specific clinical questions. If a surgeon can't or won't answer specific questions about implant brand, restoration material, surgical technique, or what happens with complications — that's a problem. Patients deserve clear answers to clinical questions.
Quote-only pricing without itemization. "We'll discuss pricing after consultation" without subsequent written itemized estimates allows for pricing manipulation. The cost of complex procedures should be in writing before treatment is scheduled.
Inconsistent recommendations from different team members. If the consultation surgeon recommends one approach, the treatment coordinator pushes another, and the financial team pressures a third — the practice has internal inconsistencies that create patient confusion. Single-doctor practices avoid this by structure; multi-team practices need strong internal alignment.
Inability to verify board certification or training credentials. Legitimate credentials are verifiable through ABOMS website (aboms.org) and state dental board records. Practices unwilling to provide credential verification should be evaluated carefully.
For patients evaluating Elite specifically using the framework above, here are the honest answers:
Board certification: Dr. Jonathan Volland is an ABOMS Diplomate — board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon (February 2023). Verifiable through aboms.org.
Training pathway: University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry (DDS, accelerated 3-year program, ranked 7 of 141). Naval Medical Center Portsmouth — 4-year OMS residency. Eight years total Navy active duty including USS Nimitz deployment and concurrent attending positions at Madigan Army Medical Center, Naval Hospital Bremerton, and NAS Oak Harbor.
Practice scope match: Elite's primary clinical specialty is full-arch dental implants. Full general OMS scope including wisdom teeth, surgical extractions, single implants, bone grafting, sinus lifts, and IV sedation. Zygomatic implant protocols available for severe atrophy cases.
Technology: Planmeca Viso G7 CBCT for 3D implant planning. Bien-Air surgical handpieces. WA General Anesthesia Permit for in-house IV sedation. Zirconia restorations from established U.S. dental labs. Implants from major manufacturers.
Communication with referring dentists: see our For Dentists page for referral procedures, communication protocols, and the practice's commitment to honoring referral relationships (we don't market to your patients after their surgical case is complete).
Practice continuity: single-doctor practice. Every patient meets directly with Dr. Volland at consultation. Dr. Volland personally performs every procedure and handles all follow-up care.
Whether Elite is the right fit for your specific case is a decision you should make at consultation, with 3D imaging and a written treatment plan informing the answer. The framework above applies to any practice you evaluate — including alternatives to Elite.
Use the framework above with any practice you're considering — including Elite. For full-arch cases at Elite, the consultation is complimentary and includes 3D imaging, direct conversation with Dr. Volland, and a written treatment plan with itemized pricing. If we're not the right fit for your case, we'll tell you that honestly and help you find appropriate alternatives.
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