Meet the Doctors

Dr. Joe Doctora

Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dr. Doctora is currently in private practice in the Nashville area. He is board-certified from the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesia.

He attributes this unique combination of training to his passionate interests in anesthesia and oral surgery. The two fields are intimately related and achieving diplomate status demonstrates his commitment to not only competence but excellence.

Dr. Doctora earned his BS in physiology at Michigan State University and graduated medical school from the University of Health Sciences School of Medicine in St. John’s, Antigua. He earned his dental degree from the University of Michigan. While in dental school he applied to and was accepted to the following one-month-long externships:

  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School /Parkland Memorial Hospital; Dallas, Texas
  • Case Western Reserve University Dental School; Cleveland, Ohio
  • Detroit Sinai Medical Center; Detroit, Michigan

The experiences galvanized his interest in the specialty and exposed him to all facets of OMFS to include dental implants, orthognathic surgery, oral cancer, facial trauma, head and neck cancer, facial reconstruction, cleft lip/palate repair last but not least dental extractions.

After Ann Arbor, he left for the warmth of South Florida where he attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine / Jackson Memorial Hospital where he completed his 12 month surgery internship. This rigorous program heavily emphasized facial trauma and head and neck cancer surgery. Subsequently, he completed his OMFS residency at Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital / Meharry  Medical College in Nashville,  Tennessee. In his fourth year he was named chief resident. Additionally,  as part of the program, he rotated through the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee for three months where he was further trained in facial trauma and orthognathic surgery. One of the many cases Dr. Doctora managed during residency was submitted to the prestigious Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and eventually published.

Most recently, for 2019-2020 he was included in MyNashville Magazine’s “Top 100 Doctors and Health Professionals”. 

His clinical focus encompasses facial trauma, facial reconstruction, dentoalveolar surgery, dental implant surgery and non-surgical rejuvenation of the aging face. He has a special interest in anti-aging therapy for facial rejuvenation and maintaining healthy skin through nutrition and minimally invasive procedures.

Dr. Doctora is licensed to practice dentistry in Tennessee and Georgia. He has been practicing in Smyrna since 2002 and Spring Hill since 2003. Originally from Michigan he now makes Nashville his home. In his spare time, you’ll find him spending time with his family. He also loves the beach, enjoys playing poker, landscaping (playing in dirt) and training at the gym or participating in any form of physical fitness.

Certifications

  • Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Diplomate, National Dental Board of Anesthesia

Education

  • Residency-Certificate, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery  Metropolitan Nashville General Hospital/Meharry Medical College Nashville, TN
  • Internship-Certificate, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery The University of Miami/School of Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami,
  • M.D., The University of Health Sciences School of Medicine, St. John’s Antigua
  • D.D.S., University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • B.S., Physiology, Michigan State University East Lansing, MI

Hospital Affiliations

  • TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center- Smyrna, TN
  • TriStar Centennial Medical Center- Nashville, TN

Publications

Dr. Kendall Sims

Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dr. Kendall Sims is a highly trained and experienced oral surgeon with deep roots in the Chattanooga community. 

A graduate of Brainerd High School, Dr.Sims went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tennessee State University before completing his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree at Meharry Medical College of Dentistry in 2004. 

Dr.Sims has a strong commitment to education and mentoring, having served as an associate professor at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Meharry Medical College and as an attending physician at Metro General Hospital in Nashville. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (AAOMS), the National Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (NSOMS), and the National Dental Association (NDA). With a deep belief in service and excellence, he brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and compassion to every patient interaction. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Dr.Sims is a devoted family man who has been happily married to his wife for over 24 years. Together, they are raising four energetic and inspiring children. In his free time, he enjoys working out, swimming, playing pool, watching anime, and spending quality time with friends and family. His warm demeanor, dedication to his craft, and passion for helping others make him a trusted and respected figure in the field of oral surgery. 

Dr.Michael Newton

Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

DrNewtonProfileBoard Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Newton obtained his dental degree with honors at Loma Linda University and his medical degree at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Newton has trained at the University of Southern California/Los Angeles County Medical Center, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the University Medical Center in Fresno, California, which is affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco.

He is a member of numerous professional societies and associations, including the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Dental Association. Dr. Newton is also a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology.

After many years of practicing Dentistry and two years at our office, Dr. Newton retired in late 2025.