Dr. Hammond was born and raised in Decatur, AL. He graduated from Austin High School and is married to the former Gayle Wilkerson of Birmingham . Gayle has a degree in Hospital Administration from Auburn University and is former director of business affairs for Bay Medical Center in Panama City, FL. She is now a stay-at-home Mom caring for their two children, Lauren and Nicholas . Lauren is nine and enjoys dance and piano. Nicholas is four and enjoys trucks and anything outdoors.
Dr. Hammond received his B.S. degree with high honors from Auburn University in 1979, majoring in chemistry. He was accepted at UAB School of Dentistry after three years of college. During his senior year of dental school, Dr. Hammond was named “Best All Around Male Student” by the Pedodontic Department. Upon graduation from dental school in 1982, he completed a year long residency at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Birmingham , which included rotations in Oral Surgery and Periodontics. He received his Masters of Science in Periodontics in 1986 from Indiana University School of Dentistry. His master’s thesis was entitled, Long-term Effects of Orthodontic Treatment on Periodontal Health Status. While in his residency, he published an article on Treatment of Medically Compromised Patients. Upon graduation, he returned to North Alabama and established his periodontal practice in 1986. Dr. Hammond and his staff have continued to provide a full range of periodontal services for over seventeen years. In 1993, conscious I.V. sedation was incorporated into the practice to provide increased patient safety and comfort during all procedures. Dr. Hammond and his clinical staff are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. They are examined by the Board of Dental Examiners on a regular basis to assure effectiveness and competency in management of medical emergencies should they arise.
In recent years there has been a paradigm shift in periodontics to include periodontal plastic surgery and dental implants. The aesthetic enhancement of periodontal plastic soft tissues to improve a patient’s smile and complement restorative procedures can now be performed with increased predictability and comfort. Dr. Hammond has completed an intensive mini-residency in the surgical and prosthetic aspects of dental implants at the Misch International Implant Institute in Detroit, MI. This has enabled him to aid in planning as well as placing implants. Increased predictability of bone grafting procedures now makes it possible for many more patients to benefit from dental implants. The interaction of periodontal plastic surgery and dental implants is a new and emerging field, allowing patients to maximize aesthetic as well as functional possibilities.
Dr. Hammond maintains a membership in the American Academy of Periodontology, the Southern Academy of Periodontolgy, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantolgy. He has passed fellowship examinations given by the Misch International Implant Institute and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Hammond is absolutely committed to providing the exceptional, state of the art periodontal and implant therapy for which this practice has been known.
