Best periodontics & implant placement specialists in West Columbia
This list covers specialists whose practice centers on periodontics and implant placement, gum grafting, bone grafting, and surgical implant work, not general dentists who occasionally handle a case. Ranking follows our methodology, weighing rating, review volume, recency, and sentiment together, with scores last refreshed 2026-07-21.
Looking for the single best overall implant provider across all specialties? See our best dental implants provider overall list. The order here reflects specialist periodontal and surgical implant scores specifically.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to periodontics & implant placement, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Premier Smile Center - Dentist Columbia | 93 | 4.9 (501) | — | Anxious patients needing surgery |
| 2 | Sunset Periodontics & Implant Dentistry | 93 | 4.9 (278) | — | Board-certified periodontal expertise |
| 3 | Columbia Periodontal Associates | 91 | 4.9 (869) | — | Multi-location periodontal care |
| 4 | Davis & Dingle Family Dentistry | 90 | 4.7 (660) | — | Long-term continuity of care |
| 5 | David M Lovit, DMD, LLC | 88 | 4.8 (429) | — | Conservative treatment philosophy |
| 6 | Total Dental Care of South Carolina | 82 | 4.6 (212) | — | Emergency and sedation implant cases |
| 7 | West Vista Dental - Dr. Kenley Loftis | 82 | 4.7 (41) | — | Personalized, family-style practice |
| 8 | True Street Dental Group | 82 | 4.7 (72) | — | Proven long-term implant results |
| 9 | Todays Dental @ West Columbia | 80 | 4.4 (272) | — | Same-day and walk-in appointments |
| 10 | Columbia Periodontal Associates | 67 | 4 (23) | — | Recovery support and patient touches |
| 11 | Dr. Donald W Hogan, D.D.S. | 67 | 4 (23) | — | Real-time procedure explanations |
| 12 | Dr. Dustin Hedgpeth | 64 | 5 (3) | — | Attentive, follow-up-driven care |
| 13 | Matthew Rowe | 62 | 5 (2) | — | After-hours surgical emergencies |
| 14 | Dr. Anny Vandam, DMD | 61 | 5 (3) | — | Thorough diagnostic exams |
| 15 | Dr. Milton L. Adams, DDS | 24 | — | — | Newer or unrated listing |
1. Premier Smile Center - Dentist Columbia
4.9 (501 reviews)score 93/100
With 501 reviews and a 4.9 rating, this practice pairs a high volume of recent feedback with strong sentiment around Dr. Smith's calm, fear-defusing approach to extractions and oral surgery. The office has built its reputation over a decade across several surrounding communities.
- Gentle handling of extractions and oral surgery for nervous patients
- Staff greet patients by name and prioritize comfort
- Fair, transparent pricing without requiring insurance
- Named staff (Ms. Asher, Ms. Keoshia) consistently praised
Watch out: One mention of a 30-minute wait past appointment time, though handled graciously.
Services: all on 4 full arch, implant oral surgery, implant periodontics, sedation implant dentistry
2. Sunset Periodontics & Implant Dentistry
4.9 (278 reviews)score 93/100
A Harvard-affiliated, board-certified periodontist leads a team that handles bone grafts and full extractions while keeping anxious patients informed at every step. The 4.9 rating across 278 reviews reflects consistent follow-up care after complex procedures.
- Board-certified periodontist with Harvard teaching background
- Strong pain management and anxiety relief during surgery
- Thorough communication before and after treatment
- Flexible scheduling, competitive pricing without insurance
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, implant oral surgery, same day implants
3. Columbia Periodontal Associates
4.9 (869 reviews)score 91/100
Four board-certified periodontal Diplomates (Park, McEntire, Hedgpath, and colleagues) work across three locations, backed by 869 reviews at a 4.9 rating, among the highest review volumes in the area. Follow-up calls after treatment and near-24-hour emergency availability stand out.
- All four doctors are board-certified Diplomates
- Follow-up calls after treatment
- Modern, comfortable office environment
- Emergency appointments sometimes available within 24 hours
Watch out: One reviewer flagged high fees, though felt the experience justified the cost.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, implant oral surgery, same day implants
4. Davis & Dingle Family Dentistry
4.7 (660 reviews)score 90/100
Drs. Davis and Dingle have built over two decades of practice, and the 660 reviews at 4.7 stars show patients returning for gentle handling of complex cases and minimal wait times. Dental implants and periodontics sit alongside general family dentistry here.
- Minimal wait times reported across visits
- Gentle specialist handling of complex cases
- Continuity with the same established doctors for years
- Staff remember patients by name over the long term
Services: single tooth implants, implant periodontics
5. David M Lovit, DMD, LLC
4.8 (429 reviews)score 88/100
Dr. Lovit brings over 40 years of clinical experience and a reputation for avoiding unnecessary procedures, backed by 429 reviews at 4.8 stars. One patient's second opinion here reportedly saved money and pain compared to another dentist's recommendation.
- 40+ years of clinical experience
- Reputation for conservative treatment over overtreatment
- Named hygienists (Angela, Erin) earn repeat loyalty
- Thorough explanations of treatment options
Watch out: Wait times can run long and appointment timing is occasionally inconsistent.
Services: all on 4 full arch, implant periodontics
6. Total Dental Care of South Carolina
4.6 (212 reviews)score 82/100
Dr. Forbes and the team earn loyalty for steady skill, modern carousel X-ray imaging, and willingness to fit in emergencies, reflected in a 4.6 rating from 212 reviews. Most praise centers on routine work rather than advanced implant cases specifically.
- Modern carousel X-ray diagnostic equipment
- Same-day or next-day emergency scheduling
- Staff skilled at calming dental anxiety
- Detailed post-visit summaries and care plans
Watch out: One serious complaint involved deep cleaning without adequate numbing and inconsistent follow-up communication on a complex case.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, same day implants, sedation implant dentistry
7. West Vista Dental - Dr. Kenley Loftis
4.7 (41 reviews)score 82/100
Dr. Loftis earns consistent praise for patience and clear explanations, with patients describing feeling welcomed as family over years of loyalty. The 4.7 rating from 41 reviews is solid, though the smaller review base means less certainty than the top-ranked practices.
- Dr. Loftis personally known for patience and gentleness
- Staff treat patients like family with long tenure
- Clear explanations before and during procedures
- Attentive aftercare, including crown fit follow-up
Watch out: A new patient reported a two-month wait, suggesting availability can be tight.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, same day implants, implant periodontics
8. True Street Dental Group
4.7 (72 reviews)score 82/100
Drs. Julie and Jake Wehman have served Columbia families for over two decades, and reviewers report implant results still holding up 15 years later. The 4.7 rating from 72 reviews includes weekend emergency responsiveness as a recurring strength.
- Natural-looking implant results lasting 15+ years reported
- Emergency availability including weekends
- Dentists build 20+ year patient relationships
- Staff treat patients like family
Watch out: One filling reportedly eroded within a year, and front-desk warmth is occasionally inconsistent.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, implant oral surgery, same day implants
9. Todays Dental @ West Columbia
4.4 (272 reviews)score 80/100
Dr. Sheftall and staff members Jess, Victoria, and Makya are named repeatedly for caring, attentive treatment, and patients travel up to 90 minutes for care here. The 4.4 rating from 272 reviews is solid but trails the top tier on sentiment and wait-time consistency.
- Same-day or next-day appointments for new patients
- Dr. Sheftall and staff build genuine patient relationships
- Comfortable, welcoming waiting area
- Patients report feeling listened to and taken seriously
Watch out: Wait times of 30 minutes to two hours past appointment are a recurring complaint, and accessibility for wheelchair users is limited.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, same day implants, implant periodontics
10. Columbia Periodontal Associates
4 (23 reviews)score 67/100
Doctors here are described as skilled and caring, and staff go beyond the basics with recovery meal bags and thank-you cards, though the 4.0 rating from 23 reviews reflects real friction around billing and administration.
- Board-certified periodontists on staff
- Multiple clinic locations (Shandon, Devine St, and outlying areas)
- Thoughtful post-surgery recovery gestures
- Gentle approach with anxious patients
Watch out: Surprise billing, a documented privacy violation, and inconsistent insurance coordination have soured some experiences.
Services: implant periodontics, implant prosthodontics
11. Dr. Donald W Hogan, D.D.S.
4 (23 reviews)score 67/100
Dr. Hogan uses a hand-held mirror to walk patients through procedures as they happen and discusses costs upfront, earning a 4.0 rating from 23 reviews. This is a low-confidence read given the modest review count, but the sentiment is largely positive with a few sharp exceptions.
- Board-certified periodontist with deep clinical experience
- Uses a hand-held mirror to explain procedures in real time
- Clear upfront cost discussion
- Long-term patient retention reported
Watch out: Some reviewers cite front-desk booking inflexibility and inconsistent staff attitude.
Services: implant periodontics
12. Dr. Dustin Hedgpeth
5 (3 reviews)score 64/100
All three available reviews describe Dr. Hedgpeth as patient and thorough, with a team that calls back proactively to anticipate questions. The review count is very small, so treat this as an early but encouraging signal.
- Patient-centered explanations of care plans
- Staff anticipate concerns before patients raise them
Watch out: Based on only three reviews, so the pattern is not yet well established.
Services: implant periodontics, sedation implant dentistry, implant prosthodontics
13. Matthew Rowe
5 (2 reviews)score 62/100
The single detailed review describes Dr. Rowe fitting in an urgent maxillary sinus repair after hours and spending a full hour in consultation, treating the patient personally rather than as a case number. With only two reviews on file, this is a promising but very limited data point.
- Board-certified periodontist
- Willingness to accommodate emergency consultations
Watch out: Only two reviews are on record, so confidence in this pattern is low.
Services: implant periodontics, implant prosthodontics
14. Dr. Anny Vandam, DMD
5 (3 reviews)score 61/100
Reviewers highlight Dr. Vandam's thorough exams and professional, personable manner, all at five stars, though the evidence base is limited to three reviews with an older recency profile.
- Thorough exams noted by reviewers
- Professional, personable bedside manner
Watch out: Very few reviews and lower recency mean this score carries real uncertainty.
Services: all on 4 full arch, single tooth implants, same day implants, implant periodontics
15. Dr. Milton L. Adams, DDS
score 24/100
There is no review history yet to draw on for this practice, so it appears here for completeness within the specialist category rather than on demonstrated patient sentiment.
- Listed as a periodontics and implant specialist in the area
Watch out: Zero reviews on record, so there is no patient feedback to evaluate yet.
Services: all on 4 full arch, implant periodontics