Dr. Jeffery R. Thomas attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Dentistry where he received his Doctorate in Dental Surgery as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree. After four years of practice in the U.S. Navy as a general dentist he went on to complete post-graduate studies in periodontology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, School of Dentistry.
Dr. Thomas established his periodontal specialty practice in New Bern, NC, in 1984. He grew up in Hubert, North Carolina, so eastern North Carolina is truly his home. His practice is focused on anterior implants, esthetic periodontal plastic surgery and complex interdisciplinary dentistry (involving specialists and your dentist).
Dr. Thomas is a part-time instructor in the graduate periodontics department at UNC. He also lectures on topics related to gingival anatomy, gingival esthetics, implants, piezo-electric surgery, and interdisciplinary dentistry. He is a reviewer for the Journal of Esthetic, Restorative Dentistry and the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. Dr. Thomas shows his ongoing commitment to the field of dentistry with his involvement and membership in the following organizations:
Dr. Thomas is the founder and director of an interdisciplinary dental study club, committed to excellence and education focusing on interaction amongst dentists and dental specialists.
Dr. Thomas is also a past president of the North Carolina Society of Periodontists and is a three time past president of the Craven-Jones-Pamlico Dental Society. He has received the following honors and awards:
- U.S. Navy Armed Forces Health Professions Award (1974-1978)
- Pfeiffer Fellow Research Award (1977) UNC-CH
- Surgeon Dental Society 1st Place Table Clinic Award (1978)
- Lieutenant Commander, USN Dental Corps (1985)
- The Harrelson Lecture Selectee, UNC-CH (2002)
- Fellow, American College of Dentists (2000)
- Fellow, International College of Dentists (2004)
- Fellow, International Team for Implantology (2004)
- Associate Member, American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (2005)
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Dr. Luther H. Hutchens is a native North Carolinian who was born in Durham and grew up in Winston-Salem. He attended Davidson College and graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill in 1967. He received his advanced training in periodontology at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he was a National Institutes of Health Fellow. He completed his residency in Periodontology and received his Masters Degree in 1970. Dr. Hutchens returned to the UNC School of Dentistry that same year as full-time faculty where he taught, did research, and practiced in the Faculty Intramural Practice. While at UNC, he was the Department Chairman from 1974-1984 and Director of the Residency Program from 1985-1992. He retired in 1999 as a full-time professor. He is presently Professor Emeritas in the Department of Periodontology at UNC.
Dr. Hutchens has continued his clinical practice since leaving full-time teaching, working part-time with Dr. Henry Best in Jacksonville for the past nine years and more recently joining Dr. Thomas at the Carolina Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics. Dr. Hutchens is a member and past president of the NC Society of Periodontists. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, a member of the Southern Acadmey of Periodontology and the American Academy of Periodontology, where he has served on numerous committees and held offices. He has lectured on clinical periodontology both locally and nationally. He has also authored numerous research publications in periodontal prefessional journals.
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Dr. Patrick McDonough is a native of North Carolina who was born in Goldsboro and grew up in Fayetteville. He accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He was awarded a Health Professions Scholarship and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll with a Doctorate in Dental Surgery in 2003 with Distinction. Following dental school, Dr. McDonough went on to complete a post-graduate program in periodontics in 2006 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX.
Dr. McDonough is board certified in periodontics, receiving diplomate status with the American Board of Periodontology in 2006. He is currently a clinical instructor at the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency and chief of periodontics at Eglin AFB, FL. Dr. McDonough joined Dr. Thomas at the Carolina Center for Dental Implants in 2009 and enjoys returning home to eastern NC whenever possible.
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