Dr. Joel S. Berger, D.D.S., M.D.

Dr. Joel Berger was born in Montreal, Canada, where he earned both his bachelor and dental degrees from McGill University. After earning his dental degree, he spent an additional year in advanced dental training at the McGill Graduate School of Dentistry. He subsequently earned his medical degree at the University of Washington. After completing his degree, he entered the oral and maxillofacial surgery training program at the University of Washington, where he completed general surgery and oral and maxillofacial training. He spent one year in Europe doing a fellowship at two major centers, one in Holland and one in Austria. He then returned to McGill University for an additional year of advanced training prior to coming to San Diego.

Dr. Berger has lectured extensively in the United States and Canada on temporomandibular joint disorders, dental implantology and the surgical treatment of sleep disorders. He is past Chief of Maxillofacial Surgery at Children’s Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital and serves on the Orthodontic Advisory Committee for California Children’s Services. He is a faculty member of University of California, San Diego, Division of Plastic Surgery, and Secretary of the California Coalition of Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

For his entire career, Dr. Berger has been at the forefront of his field. The following is a brief list of accomplishments that he has achieved in his career:

● First oral surgeon to perform corrective sleep apnea surgery

● First oral surgeon to perform cosmetic facial surgery  

● First oral surgeon to do nerve repair surgeries

● First surgeon to employ botox in treating facial wrinkles

● Developer of resorbable plates and screws used in 

        maxillofacial surgery

● First oral surgeon to use distraction osteo-genesis for 

        congenital deformities

● First oral maxillofacial surgeon to perform arthroscopic 

         TMJ surgery

● Chief of Oral Surgery Maxillofacial at Sharp Hospital

● Chief of Dental Oral Surgery, Rady Children’s Hospital

● Clinical Professor, UCSD Department of Plastic Surgery

● Past Chief of Surgery, Sharp Memorial Hospital

● Board member for American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons