When I was a child, I had a significant accident where I knocked my teeth out, so I spent a lot of time in dental chairs and in medical offices, trying to put my face back together. So it was at that time that I decided I wanted to do something in the medical profession.
As I went through my college career, I started looking at the different options that were out there, and dentistry really resonated with me. It made a significant difference in my life, the way that dentistry affected my smile and my ability to eat, and I wanted to help other people similarly.
Being a dentist has a lot of rewards, but I think the most rewarding part of being a dentist is when I see a patient who comes in and we’ve been able to change their life, similar to how my life was changed when I was younger. We’ll see people who haven’t been able to chew, now they’re able to chew. People who hid their smile, now they smile. People who were in pain now come in smiling instead of moaning. So those are the little changes and the big changes that I find the most rewarding.
In the state of Oregon, all dentists are required to have a minimum number of hours of continued education. To me, the number seems fairly small. In order to provide the kind of dentistry that I want to provide and do the kinds of different procedures that I do, it requires maintaining a significant amount of continuing education hours. So I found some of the best courses, I think, in the country, where I’ve been able to be trained in general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and implant dentistry. I spend anywhere between 50 to 350 hours a year, working on my continuing education and trying to maintain my current level of education, as well as learning new techniques and procedures that can help our patients and help the practice be the kind of practice that I want to have.
For our patients, the continued education that we have makes a big difference. And I think the thing that they noticed the most is we strive to be a fairly full-service dental practice. So for our patients, when they come to our office with a variety of different problems, they know they can be well taken care of right here, in the same office, without having to be farmed out to different specialists for different things.
That being said, I have a network of specialists that we work with. So in cases that require it or for patients that are more comfortable and in any circumstance, we have a wonderful team of oral surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists, periodontists that we work with to make sure that our patients will have the best care possible.
Dr. Williams Serves His Patients, His Family, & Others Around the World
Dr. Gregory A. Williams has dedicated his life to sharing his time and talents with his family, the patients at his thriving dental practice, and others around the world through his humanitarian efforts.
When it comes to his patients, Dr. Williams is committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive dental care. Dr. Williams began his dental practice in the Tigard/King City area in 1998 after graduating from Oregon Health & Science University with high honors.
He continues a commitment of lifelong learning through his membership in professional associations, including:
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- American Academy of Implant Dentistry
- American Dental Association
- Oregon Dental Association
As a top dentist in Tigard, Dr. Williams also serves as a Master with the Academy of General Dentistry, which is an honor fewer than 1% of dentists achieve. He is also a Fellow with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and is in the process of becoming a Diplomate with the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID). As an adjunct clinical instructor and student mentor at OHSU, Dr. Williams works with and instructs dental students on a regular basis.
Dr. Williams has also developed a passion for humanitarian work at home and abroad. For years, he hosted one of the largest clinics in Washington County during the national Give Kids A Smile campaign. Since 2005, Dr. Williams has traveled annually to remote areas of the world including most of Central America, Peru, Ecuador, Samoa, India, and Nepal providing dentistry to thousands of people, many of whom have never seen a dentist.
Shortly after one of these trips was when he and Dr. Scott Dyer co-founded Wide Open Humanitarian, Inc. Established in 2007, this not-for-profit organization brings dental relief to the poorest of the poor throughout the world, instructs the dentists in these remote areas regarding practical techniques, and helps pave the way for future organizations to set up ongoing clinics.
Dr. Williams has been married to his lovely wife, Michelle, for over 30 years. Together they are raising the youngest of their seven children and recently welcomed their first grandchild. They can often be found coaching youth soccer or basketball, as well as cheering at their children’s sporting and musical events. They enjoy time as a family through activities such as swimming, hiking, backpacking, cycling, and working or playing in the yard together.
Dr. Williams’ adventurous spirit is reflected not only through what he does for others but also how he chooses to enjoy his time away. Dr. Williams has participated in several Sprint, Olympic, half Ironman, and full Ironman distance triathlons. He also works with young men ages 16-18 in church, taking them on regular high adventure activities.
This kind of passion and dedication guides Dr. Williams through how best to care for his family, his patients, his local community, and those around the world.